The Philadelphia 76ers are in Atlanta on Sunday night to take on the Hawks as their six-game road trip and season are winding down. The Sixers started off their road trip with a victory over the Mavericks last Sunday, but they have lost their last three games in a row, following that up with three consecutive losses to the Rockets, Thunder, and Spurs. The Hawks have won their last two games and are 7-3 over their last ten games. They currently sit in seventh place in the Eastern Conference.
Sixers game information
Who: Philadelphia 76ers (23-47) at Atlanta Hawks (34-36)
When: 6 p.m. EST
Where: State Farm Arena
Watch: NBA League Pass
Latest on the Sixers
The Sixers are coming off a 128-120 loss to the Spurs on Friday night, their third in a row, as they set to tangle with the Hawks. The Sixers’ injury report is something to behold, as Joel Embiid, Paul George, Tyrese Maxey, Kelly Oubre, Andre Drummond, Eric Gordon, and Kyle Lowry were all counted on to be huge pieces of the team’s success when the season started. Every single one of those players will miss today’s game, as will productive rookies Jared McCain and Adem Bona.
As of right now, the team is leaning heavily on Quentin Grimes and Geurschon Yabusele to keep them in or help them win games.
While luck, for this season, has not been on the team’s side, the future seems to be a bit brighter for the next few years, with the team having found some true NBA players among the young talent they’ve brought in. The biggest name so far has been Quentin Grimes, who’s been nothing short of amazing since being acquired at the trade deadline. In the 19 games since becoming a Sixer, Grimes has averaged 21.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists while taking on the role as the team’s primary option while their stars are out.
In addition to Grimes, Justin Edwards continues to prove himself. While he’s had some struggles this season, over the past three games, he’s found his place, averaging 20.7 points per game while shooting 53.5% from the field and 47.6% on his three-point attempts.
Latest on the Hawks
The Hawks are coming off a big win over the Warriors on Saturday night. The whole team contributed, and three players scored over 20 points. Trae Young led the team with 25 points and 10 assists, while Onyeka Okongwu had 22 points and 12 rebounds. Dyson Daniels had 12 points and 11 rebounds, while former Sixer Georges Niang dropped 23 on the Warriors.
Trae Young has had a mixed season while leading the Hawks this year. While he’s scoring 24.1 points per game, that’s the lowest he’s averaged in a season since his rookie year.
On the other hand, Young is averaging 11.4 assists per game to lead the league. He’s turning the ball over more than he has in his career and shooting worse than at any time other than his rookie season. He’s had his name in the news as a potential trade candidate at the past deadline and dealt with some lingering health issues. Through it all, he has his team in a playoff position and is hoping to make some noise.
In addition to Young, Caris LeVert and Dyson Daniels have played bigger roles for the team and have played well. LeVert is averaging 16.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game, while Daniels is right behind him, averaging 14.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. Both players have helped the Hawks be successful despite the loss of Jalen Johnson for the season two months ago. The Hawks have some quality young talent to help them improve as they move forward.
What to watch for tonight
With the Brooklyn Nets having lost three games in a row, including two straight to the Pacers, the Sixers have dropped to the sixth-worst record in the league and are putting their first-round pick in jeopardy of being sent to the Thunder. Head Coach Nick Nurse is going to have to do his best to make sure the team does the best it can while also not enough to win this game. Nurse will have to find a way for Quentin Grimes to succeed without sacrificing a chance for the Sixers to retain their first-round pick.
More of Grimes, Edwards, Yabusele, and an awakened Ricky Council IV gives the Sixers a viable team on the floor. If you add in Chuma Okeke, Jared Butler, and Jalen Hood-Schifino, the Sixers have an exciting young group that can compete and even win some games over the remaining games this season. While it’s not what the fans or probably even the organization want, the Sixers have been too good, even this shorthanded, to lose every remaining game.
This part of the season, when they should be gearing up for the playoffs, is now about getting players like Edwards, Butler, and Grimes valuable minutes, seeing what they bring to the table, and assessing what their roles will be in the future. Grimes and Edwards have pretty much solidified a spot, but the remaining younger players are exciting to watch, despite mistakes, and are proving to the Sixers and their fans that they belong on the team as they move forward.
Prediction
Sixers 117 – Hawks 123
