We’re back to NBA action. After a well-earned break, the league is back in business on Thursday night, and the playoff race is on. The Philadelphia 76ers hold the sixth seed as we head into the second half, placing them just above the play-in tournament. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Hawks are clinging to the fourth and final spot in the play-in at 10th in the East. Both teams have plenty to play for and are ready to start the second half of the season on a strong note.
Philadelphia is a -2.5-point favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Atlanta sits as a +114 underdog. The total is set at 235.5 points. Let’s get into a prediction and pick for this Thursday night matchup between the Hawks and 76ers.
Hawks vs. 76ers preview
Philly sure has to feel good about where they are. Expectations were low going into the season, with Joel Embiid’s health looming large. Though he still sits out some games to manage his body, “The Process” is turning back the clock this season. Across 31 games, Embiid has averaged 26.6 points per game, with 7.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists to boot. Philadelphia is 7.4 points better per 100 possessions with Embiid on the floor, a team-high mark among rotation players.
He’s not the only one pulling his weight here. All-Star starter Tyrese Maxey continues to grow as an offensive playmaker and has been a true workhorse, leading the NBA in total minutes played. VJ Edgecombe hit the ground running after being picked third overall in the 2025 draft. Paul George found a way to play a role before his steroid suspension (which will be up before the regular season ends). This team has the talent and experience to go far in an Eastern Conference that feels very up for grabs.
Things haven’t been as peachy for Atlanta’s finest. A hasty Trae Young exit cast a cloud over the season, and the combination of injuries and ineffectiveness has put them under .500. Atlanta wisely sold off some players at the trade deadline, yet remains in the mix for playoff basketball. A lot of that success is due to Jalen Johnson’s ascension as a true star offensive engine.
The team’s hope is to outrun and outscore everyone. They operate at the NBA’s third-fastest pace and have the kind of run-and-gun talents to execute. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, CJ McCollum, and Corey Kispert have never met a three-pointer they didn’t like. Onyeka Okongwu and Mouhamed Gueye can provide the defense down low, while Dyson Daniels can hang with the best of them along the perimeter. Newly acquired Hawk Jonathan Kuminga will join the lineup soon to provide more athleticism and on-ball scoring juice. It’s not a perfect equation, by any means, but it can produce some results in the second half of the season — provided that they can stay healthy.
So, will the Sixers prove victorious? Or can the Hawks kick off the second half of the season with a road upset?
Hawks vs. 76ers pick, best bet
Without a doubt, points will be scored here. The Hawks run fast, score plenty, and fail to offer up much resistance on the other end. Philly doesn’t have the same kind of pace, but they have a lights-out scoring talent in Tyrese Maxey. Even without Joel Embiid in the lineup, the Sixers have the punch to win this one.
Still, Philly’s record without Embiid gives me pause. They’re 19-12 with the former MVP in the lineup and 11-12 without. They’ve also lost six of their last seven when he sits. Atlanta has the value here, despite being the inferior team and playing on the road. There’s no viable way for the Sixers to make up for Embiid’s absence.
