The Atlanta Hawks established their dominance in Game 1 and now have an opportunity to steal another game despite Joel Embiid's return.
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There were plenty of questions heading into the second-round matchup between the Philadelphia 76ers and Atlanta Hawks, most of them revolving around Joel Embiid’s health. He played the entire game, but there are even more questions now after Trae Young and the Hawks stunned the 76ers to take Game 1.
Sights and sounds from Philly‼️#BelieveAtlanta pic.twitter.com/7QJEr74Bi6
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) June 7, 2021
Trae Young played a terrific game, finishing with 35 points and 10 assists, Bogdan Bogdanovic and John Collins added 21 points apiece. The Hawks held on despite a furious push from the Sixers towards the end. Embiid put up 39 points and nine rebounds while playing 38 minutes.
We’ve got a shooter ?@TheTraeYoung is the 2nd player in NBA history to score 30 points in each of his first 4 career playoff road games! pic.twitter.com/yui8kihzk9
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) June 7, 2021
The Hawks came in hot for Game 1. They jumped all over a sleepwalking Sixers team. It took less than 10 minutes for them to build a double-digit lead. At one point in the first half the Hawks were up by 26. Trae Young picked up right where he left off against the Knicks. The Hawks got a little shaky towards the end of the fourth quarter, and nearly gave the game away.
The Sixers simply underestimated the Hawks, it was clear they weren’t ready to play on Sunday. They were sloppy and came out with no sense of urgency. It looked like they assumed they would get an easy win against the 5th-seeded Atlanta Hawks, with Embiid back in the lineup.
The Hawks did whatever they wanted on both ends of the floor, but the 76ers showed a ton of strength to get back in the game. Embiid looked healthy and largely dominated in the paint, but they still have to strategize a plan to throw at Trae Young.
Tough, @JoelEmbiid. pic.twitter.com/WXvpb3ZPBG
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) June 6, 2021
The 76ers are expected to enter Game 2 with a chip on their shoulders. They cannot afford to lose another game at home and head to Atlanta down 0-2, so the 76ers are expected to be extra aggressive in offense and defence.
