Atlanta Hawks win Game 7 over Philadelphia 76ers to advance to Eastern Conference finals
Three months into the NBA season, the Atlanta Hawks weren’t a playoff team let alone a team capable of making the Eastern Conference finals.
Yet, that’s where the fifth-seeded Hawks are after defeating the top-seeded Philadelphia 76ers, 103-96, in Game 7 on their Eastern Conference semifinals series on Sunday.
The Hawks will play Milwaukee – winners over Brooklyn in Game 7 on Saturday – in the Eastern Conference finals, beginning Wednesday in Milwaukee. It was the second consecutive East semifinals series that went the distance and the road team won Game 7. It was Atlanta’s fifth road victory of the playoffs and third in Philadelphia this series.
The Hawks reached the conference finals for just the second time since the franchise moved to Atlanta in 1968, and they are now trying to get to the Finals for the first time since becoming the Atlanta Hawks.
Trae Young didn’t have his best shooting game. It wasn’t even mediocre. It was just an off night shooting.
But the Hawks displayed an attribute of a quality team. They were able to win a Game 7 on the road without Young having one of his typical scoring efforts.
Even with a bad night from the field, Young’s 29-foot 3-pointer with 2:31 left in the fourth quarter put the Hawks up 93-87. Kevin Huerter’s three free throws – Matisse Thybulle fouled him – gave Atlanta a 96-92 lead with 54 seconds remaining. Danilo Gallinari’s dunk after another Joel Embiid turnover extended the lead to 98-92.
It took a team effort with Young shooting just 5-for-23 from the field, including 2-for-11 on 3s.
Kevin Huerter picked up the scoring with 27 points, John Collins had 14 points and 16 rebounds, Clint Capela added 13 points and six rebounds and Gallinari contributed 17 points.
Young finished with 21 points, but Atlanta still need his playmaking. He had 11 assists.
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