Three Takeaways From Hawks Loss to 76ers

Atlanta lost their third straight game tonight vs the 76ers

The final score from the Hawks game tonight vs the 76ers is a bit deceiving. 

While Philadelphia did win by 11 points 125-114, Atlanta fought hard and kept it close for much of the game. The Hawks were without Trae Young for this game and forward Jalen Johnson is still not back healthy. It was going to be an uphill battle to even stay in this game, but the Hawks were up for it for much of the night. 

Now, Atlanta is 9-12 and has a matchup with the defending champion Nuggets at home on Monday. Atlanta still has time to turn things around, but it's running out. 

So what are the big takeaways from tonight's game?

1. The final score is misleading

De'Andre Hunter guarding Tobias Harris / Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports

I am not much for moral victories, but if you watched this game, you would know that the 76ers were very much in danger of losing. 

This game was close the whole way through and the offense fell flat in the last four minutes of the game. Atlanta went nine straight possessions without scoring a basket and that led to Philadelphia winning the game. 

Atlanta not only won the second quarter, but they won it emphatically. Bogdanovic had 13 points in the quarter and finished with 17 points and five rebounds in the first half. The Hawks finished the half shooting 45.5% from the field and 36.4% from three. It was a night and day difference compared to the first quarter.

After scoring 17 in the opening quarter, Embiid was shut out in the 2nd. The 76ers shot 45.8% from the field and 42.9% from three in the first half. Maxey would have 11 points and five assists in the first half.

Atlanta won the 2nd quarter 45-27 and had a six-point lead (68-62).

The Hawks were getting great contributions from Patty Mills and Trent Forrest tonight, but it was not enough. The final score said the 76ers won by 11, but it felt closer than that. 

2. Patty Mills and Trent Forrest played well 

With Young out, I was interested to see how the rotation would shake out for the Hawks tonight. When he missed a game earlier in the year against Detroit, Trent Forrest did see some minutes, but it was only a one-game sample size. Mills had not seen a lot of game action this season, but in the minutes he played, he actually played well. 

Forrest played 13 minutes and scored six points while being only a -3 on the floor. Mills played 17 minutes, was a +1 when on the floor, and did hit a three. For players that don't see much action, Forrest and Mills held their own. 

3. AJ Griffin has fallen out of this rotation 

With Young and Johnson out tonight, I thought that could open the door for more minutes for AJ Griffin. He had a good rookie season a year ago, but has seemingly fallen out of favor right now. He did not play and while Garrison Matthews only played three minutes, it is still interesting that Griffin can't get in over him for any minutes. Things could change, but AJ Griffin has completely fallen from the rotation in Atlanta. 

Short-Handed Hawks Fight Hard on the Road, but Lose 125-114 to the 76ers

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