There are eight games of action tipping off across today’s NBA slate. Starting at 6:10 p.m. ET, the Philadelphia 76ers will be taking on the Atlanta Hawks.
This is the second matchup between these Eastern Conference opponents this season. Atlanta got the better of Philadelphia in the first matchup in a double overtime thriller. This was despite Tyrese Maxey scoring 44 points in an effort to keep the Sixers afloat. The Sixers will have to operate without Maxey tonight as he is set to miss his second consecutive game due to illness.
Looking at the odds for tonight, the Hawks enter as 5.5-point favorites and hold -205 odds on the moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Sixers hold +170 odds of winning outright with the game total set at 224.5 points.
This article will look at a preview and prediction for the Sunday night matchup.
76ers at Hawks Preview
The Sixers have climbed to the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference with a 14-10 record to start the year. They enter this matchup having won four of their last five, with Joel Embiid and Paul George beginning to find their footing. Injuries have been so bothersome for the past season and a half for both players, but the vision for what they can be together is still clear. The veteran superstars will need to carry this level of responsibility again tonight, with the Sixers set to be without the 31.5 points, 7.2 assists and 4.7 rebounds that Maxey provides. In addition to Maxey being out, Trendon Watford and Kelly Oubre Jr. will remain sidelined, and Joel Embiid is listed as questionable.
Embiid is coming off his best game of the season in which he scored 39 points along with nine rebounds and three assists against Indiana. The Sixers have been extremely cautious in their approach to his lingering knee issues. But the questionable label is an encouraging sign that he will give it a go, with him typically ruled out at this stage in the pregame process. Paul George has started to find his footing and scale up his role within the team. He has scored 20+ points in two of his last three games and has played three consecutive games for the first time all season. Third-overall pick VJ Edgecombe has been a huge bright spot, averaging 14.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists. Quentin Grimes has been a weapon off the bench, adding 16.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists, and he will likely be in line to start once again with Maxey sidelined.
Philadelphia ranks 16th in the NBA in scoring at 116.8 points per game. It ranks 16th in offensive rating, 24th in field-goal percentage and 17th in three-point percentage. Defensively, the Sixers are allowing 115.7 points per game. This ranks 12th in the NBA, and they also rank 12th in defensive rating, eighth in opponent field-goal percentage and eighth in opponent three-point percentage. The Sixers are 14-10 against the spread this season, and the under has cashed in 13 of the 24 games.
The Atlanta Hawks are off to a 14-12 start to the season, which slots them at ninth place in the Eastern Conference. They were crowned one of the biggest winners of the offseason with several notable free agent additions, but they have had some ups-and-downs. Trae Young remains sidelined with his knee injury, but he is hopeful to return to practice this week. Kristaps Porzingis, N’Faly Dante and Eli John N’Diaye have each been ruled out, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker is questionable with an ankle injury.
Jalen Johnson has made the All-Star caliber leap this season and flashed as Atlanta’s best player for extended periods of time. The Duke product leads the team with 23.2 points, 10.5 rebounds and 8.0 assists, getting the job done on both ends of the floor. Onyeka Okongwu adds 16.0 points and 7.2 rebounds while shooting 34.6% from beyond the three-point arc on 5.1 perimeter shots per game. Former first overall pick Zaccharie Risacher has also put together some encouraging stretches, posting averages of 11.0 points and 2.8 rebounds, despite his 29.0% three-point percentage. Dyson Daniels, Vit Krejci and Luke Kennard each make a strong impact as well.
Collectively, the Hawks are scoring 117.9 points per game, which ranks 12th in the NBA. Atlanta is 15th in offensive rating, ninth in field-goal percentage, ninth in three-point percentage and leads the NBA in assists per game. Defensively, opponents are scoring 117.5 points per game against them, which ranks 21st. The Hawks rank 15th in defensive rating, 17th in opponent field-goal percentage and ninth in opponent three-point percentage. The Hawks are 14-12 against the spread, with the over cashing in 15 of their 26 games.
76ers at Hawks Prediction, Best Bet
It was a thriller in the first matchup between these two teams, with Jalen Johnson ultimately lifting the team to a victory in double overtime. The makeup of this Sixers team is much different without Tyrese Maxey. But the Sixers were able to win the previous game without him, although it was against the Indiana Pacers, and the Hawks have slipped since their previous matchup. Atlanta has lost four of the five games since these two teams last played, while Philadelphia has won four of its five.
Embiid looking like himself was encouraging. When the former MVP is at his best, he remains one of the most unguardable offensive talents in the league. Whether this was a one-time flash or a sign of things to come basically decides the outlook for this matchup. Assuming he is to play, this would mark the first time that Embiid plays two games in a three-day stretch this year.
Given the uncertainty of Embiid’s status and how much this impacts the game’s outlook, I am straying away from a side and backing the game total to go over. Neither of these teams has impressed defensively this season, allowing an average of 233.2 combined points per game. Embiid has shown progress offensively, but he is still a shell of himself regarding his defensive impact. Opposing players no longer show fear when attacking the basket with him on the floor, and the Sixers have a few rotational pieces that can be picked on defensively. Count on Atlanta’s highly athletic roster to cause some problems attacking the offensive glass and being relentless in creating additional possessions throughout.
The first matchup between these two teams finished with 276 points after double overtime, and at 230 before the overtime period. Expect both these teams to have success scoring the basketball again, and for the game total to go over the 224.5 points for the second consecutive time between these two teams.
