By Jerry Wein
You can’t wipe out the memory of losing in last June’s Eastern semis when you’re heavily favored by winning one game four months later in a new season.
But payback was in the air at the Wells last night for the Sixers-Hawks.
Tobias Harris had 22 points and 11 rebounds, Joel Embiid added 19 points and the Sixers routed the Atlanta Hawks 122-94.
The Sixers won this game in the paint:
A 60-36 advantage while outscoring Atlanta 34-14 margin on fast-break points.
Six Sixers finished in double figures with, Tyrese Maxey (16), Seth Curry (15), Matisse Thybulle (11) and Shake Milton (11) in the first game between the teams since Atlanta’s seven-game ouster of the Sixers in last year’s Eastern Conference semifinals.
“When we go out like we did last season, this was a good test for us early this season to know where we stand,” Harris said. “There was obviously more to this game than just a regular-season game.”
Most of what Philly was able to do against Atlanta was breakout on transition, pushing the action and getting open looks inside, shooting 30 of 36 from the paint.
“We kept moving the ball and the paint points came from just moving the ball and eventually shots will fall,” Sixers coach Doc Rivers said. “When we play like that, we’re pretty good offensively.”
Harris was 9 of 13 from the floor and had four assists. Embiid — who has been forced to play at the perimeter and away from the post because of nagging knee issues left over from last year’s postseason — shot 5 of 13 and grabbed five rebounds.
“The defense allowed us to increase our pace, feel good running, get a stop and helped us all around,” Harris said.
Cam Reddish led the Hawks with 16 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the floor. Trae Young and Bogan Bogdanovic each had 13 points, but Young struggled at 5 for 15 from the floor and only got to the foul line four times.
“Our offense is out of sync and that’s leading to no defense at all,” Hawks coach Nate McMillan said. “We’re turning the ball over. Our shot selection — we’re taking quick shots and it’s leading to transition baskets. We have no rhythm right now. And this group has to find a chemistry on the offensive end of the floor and that’s leading to poor defense.”
It was the first meeting between the teams since Atlanta beat top-seeded Philadelphia in seven games in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
“I didn’t talk about it,” Rivers said. “I didn’t think I needed to. I think they knew it.”
The 76ers’ Game 7 defeat was punctuated by Ben Simmons passing on an open dunk in the final minutes — a flashpoint in the ongoing drama between the All-Star point guard and the organization.
Simmons was spotted on an exercise bike at the 76ers practice facility following shootaround Saturday.
