Sixers crush short-handed Hawks to clinch playoff spot
Seth Curry #31 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Skylar Mays #4 of the Atlanta Hawks reach for a loose ball during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center on April 28, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images/AFP
Seth Curry scored 20 points in three quarters and the host Philadelphia 76ers had little trouble dispatching the Atlanta Hawks 127-83 on Wednesday.
Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris added 17 points and seven rebounds each as the Sixers (41-21) clinched a playoff spot.
Article continues after this advertisementShake Milton and Furkan Korkmaz contributed 12 apiece and Tyrese Maxey had 11 for the Sixers. All 15 Philadelphia players scored in the 44-point win.
𝙶𝙰𝙼𝙴 𝙷𝙸𝙶𝙷𝙻𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃𝚂
Atlanta Hawks | 04.28.21
📼 presented by @PALottery pic.twitter.com/IZxWMbsirs
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) April 29, 2021
The short-handed Hawks played without a number of key players such as Trae Young (left ankle), Cam Reddish (right Achilles) and De’Andre Hunter (right knee). Despite the injuries, the Hawks (34-29) are still 20-9 since Lloyd Pierce was fired and Nate McMillan was named interim head coach.
Article continues after this advertisementJohn Collins led the Hawks with 21 points while Solomon Hill added 14, Skylar Mays had 11 and Lou Williams 10.
Clint Capela finished with eight rebounds, snapping his double-figure rebounding streak at 14 straight games. It had been the longest active mark in the league.
Simmons scored eight points and handed out six assists as the Sixers set the early tempo and cruised to a 67-39 lead at halftime. Embiid and Curry led the way offensively with 15 points each.
The depleted Hawks struggled to find their offensive rhythm throughout the first half and also missed 8 of 9 shots from beyond the arc.
PLAYOFF BOUND.#PhilaUnite pic.twitter.com/mplET5U6Uw
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) April 29, 2021
When Curry drove to the basket and scored with 7:56 remaining in the third, the Sixers extended their commanding advantage to 78-48.
The Sixers led 93-63 at the end of the third.
Philadelphia’s reserves continued to be aggressive as Matisse Thybulle scored on spectacular a one-handed tip with 8:15 left for a 100-70 advantage. Thybulle was fouled by Kris Dunn on the play and Dunn was also given a technical foul for unsportsmanlike conduct.
The Hawks became more frustrated and Young was also assessed a technical foul for arguing from the bench.
The Sixers’ lead reached 40 when Anthony Tolliver dropped in 2 of 3 free throws after being fouled on a trey with 3:16 to go.
