The hostilities launched by the one night bell ringers Allen Iverson and Aaron McKie, the Sixers start off strong. They start with an 8 of 8 on shots, and the thirteen points of the Embiid – Korkmaz duo allow them to take the lead. It takes all of Trae Young’s talent to keep the Hawks in ambush (18-11).
After the statements of Clint Capela who had followed Game 4, Joël Embiid is not in half measure in this first quarter. He attacks the Swiss and dominates the meeting on both sides of the field to finish the period with 17 points to 8 of 8 on shots and give his team 14 lengths (38-24).
Atlanta sort le « Hack-a-Simmons »
Cameroonian on the bench, Philly continues to punish Atlanta behind the 3-point line. After a 5 out of 7 in the first twelve minutes, Shake Milton, Matisse Thybulle and Seth Curry all hit the mark from afar to pass the gap to +20, despite resistance from John Collins (51-31).
With five minutes to go before half-time, Nate McMillan then decides to release the Hack-a-Simmons to break his opponent’s rhythm. If the leader of the Sixers gives him reason by missing six of his eight free throws in the space of three minutes, the Hawks do not manage to take advantage of it to return in the meeting.
Muzzled by the aggressive defense of Philadelphia, they finished the second quarter at 5 of 19 on shots. Thanks to Embiid, the advance even reached 26 units before a 3-point from John Collins came to stop the bleeding (62-40). At the break, the Sixers pivot already has 24 points and 10 rebounds.
Seth Curry makes the powder talk
Four consecutive points from Trae Young to start the third quarter seem to revive Atlanta but two award-winning shots from Seth Curry and Joël Embiid launch an 8-0 Sixers who regain a 26-point lead (70-44). The Sixers’ offense declines in this period, but their defense prevents Atlanta from falling below the 20 units mark.
Whenever Collins and Young set the sights, Seth Curry imitates them to kill any opposing momentum. The brother of the double MVP also chained eleven points in a row to keep the Hawks at -25 (83-58). It finally takes an 11-4 Atlanta to end the quarter against the second five of the Sixers to give a bit of hope to the Hawks (87-69).
The Hawks haven’t said their last word
A suspicious selection of shots from Philadelphia and two empty possessions in defense drive Doc Rivers crazy who takes a time out after 77 seconds of play in the last quarter. A 3-point from Danilo Gallinari, however, punctuated a 7-0 which brought Atlanta to -11 to the amazement of the Wells Fargo Center (87-76).
The return to play of the pair Embiid – Curry gives air to the Sixers but Lou Williams catches fire. He scores eleven points in a row to keep his team in ambush and a 3-point from John Collins brings Atlanta to -8 (100-92)! Two floaters from Trae Young, followed by an assist to Clint Capela and a new dose of Hack-a-Simmons and here is the Hawks with two possessions with three minutes to play (104-98).
Trae Young cools down the Wells Fargo Center
Without rhythm, the Sixers lose the ball on the throw-in, and they go on with a possession without movement that ends in a forced shot from Embiid without any space. Opposite, it is quite the opposite, Trae Young takes his responsibilities, marks halfway, then on a floater, before causing the fault of Thybulle on a 3-point feint to inflict a personal 7-0 to Philly and put the Hawks ahead for the first time in the game (105-104)!
With 90 seconds to go, Tobias Harris refuses to shoot and ends up being countered under the circle by John Collins in a disillusioned room. In the process, Danilo Gallinari plants a fadeaway on the head of Seth Curry to give the Hawks three points (107-104).
With 21 seconds to go, the Sixers forget a single 3-point Curry but Embiid will look for two free throws… which he misses. Trae Young then kills the match on the other side and offers himself a record of points in the playoffs to achieve a new heist in this series and return to Atlanta with the opportunity to qualify for the final of the Eastern Conference!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQRiVrXP5xE
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