2021 NBA Playoffs: Hawks show resiliency, outlast Sixers

The game looked as if it was already over.

By halftime, the Philadelphia 76ers were up 62-49 against the Atlanta Hawks in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals and looked poised to take a 3-1 lead.

But the Hawks didn’t quit. Although they shot only 33% in the first half compared to 76ers’ 52%, they continued to attack.

Hawks star Trae Young, who shot 3-12 and scored eight points in the first half, had a big third quarter. He scored nine points and notched six assists to help Atlanta pull within two points at the start of the fourth quarter.

Young and the Hawks carried that momentum into the final period and defeated the 76ers 103-100. Atlanta proved they have mettle and a chance to win the series.

 For Young, the Hawks’ resilient mindset is nothing new.

“We’ve been fighting all year,” said Young, who ended up with 25 points and 18 assists. “This team never gives up no matter what the score is…I love the way we fight and I’m proud of our team.”

The 76ers, however, didn’t show much fight at all in the second half, head coach Doc Rivers said. The Hawks were by far the more physical, tougher team and the 76ers got away from playing as a team, he said.

“Everyone went back to hero basketball instead of trusting the team – trusting each other,” Rivers said. “When you do that, you usually lose – especially when the other team outworks you the whole game.”

Philadelphia looked like a shell of itself in the second half, dropping to shooting 32% from the field from 52% in the first half. 76ers stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons going 1-12 in the second half didn’t help.

Embiid, who scored 17 points and grabbed 21 rebounds, went back to the locker room during the first half to possibly tend to his sustained knee injury, which could have affected his play in the second half.

But even before he went to the locker room, he felt like he “didn’t have it” this game, he said.

The 76ers will need Embiid to have it headed back to Philadelphia for Game 5 Wednesday. The confident young Hawks have shown they aren’t afraid to play in Philadelphia by stealing Game 1 at Wells Fargo Arena.

“There are no excuses,” Embiid said. “I’ve got to be better.”