Sixers Rally Falls Short In 91-85 Loss To Red-Hot Hawks
ATLANTA (AP) — Al Horford scored 23 points, including a tying basket after Philadelphia took its first lead late in the game, and the Atlanta Hawks recovered after squandering a 21-point lead to beat the 76ers 91-85 on Saturday night and stretch their franchise-record winning streak to 19 games.
The Hawks led by 21 in the first half but the 76ers came back to take their first lead at 83-81 on a jam by Nerlens Noel with less than 3 minutes remaining.
Horford scored to pull the Hawks even, and Dennis Schroeder's 3-pointer with 1:35 left gave Atlanta an 86-83 advantage. Following a miss by Philadelphia's K.J. McDaniels, Horford's jumper gave the Hawks a five-point lead.
Horford had a game-high 11 rebounds, four assists and three blocks.
Luc Mbah a Moute, Michael Carter-Williams and Jerami Grant each had 13 points for Philadelphia, which was denied its first three-game winning streak of the season. Noel had 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Schroeder and Paul Millsap each had 15 points for Atlanta.
The Hawks pulled away early in the matchup of the NBA's best defense and worst offense. Atlanta's defense leads the league, allowing 96.3 points per game. Philadelphia's average of 89.7 points per game ranks last.
Shooting problems returned in the first half for the 76ers, who ended a streak of 23 straight games below 100 points in Friday night's 103-94 win over Minnesota. Atlanta led 49-34 at halftime as the 76ers struggled from the field and free throw line.
Kent Bazemore had only three points in his first start of the season as forwards DeMarre Carroll (left Achilles strain) and Thabo Sefolosha (right calf strain) were held out.
Following tests on Saturday, the Hawks said Sefolosha, who was hurt early in Friday night's win over Portland, is expected to miss six to eight weeks. The team offered no update on Carroll's expected return.
Following a 10-all tie, the 76ers had a long scoring drought as the Hawks pulled away with a 14-0 run that included the last 12 points of the first quarter. Philadelphia finally reached 20 points with 6:06 remaining in the first half when Carter-Williams made one of two free throws.
The Hawks' big lead in the first half was 47-26. Two 3-pointers by Hollis Thompson late in the half helped the76ers cut their halftime deficit to 49-34.
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TIP-INS
76ers: Philadelphia hit six 3-pointers, including two by Thompson, while outscoring the Hawks 32-22 in the third period. ... Philadelphia's ugly first half included 14 fouls, 10 turnovers, 32.4 percent shooting from the field (12 of 37) and 50 percent shooting on free throws (5 of 10). ... The 76ers haven't won three straight since a four-game streak from Dec. 29, 2013, to Jan. 4, 2014.
Hawks: Jeff Teague was a little off on an intended alley-oop pass for Bazemore in the third quarter, but they liked the result. Bazemore, soaring over the rim, had to hold off at the last second as the pass went in the basket for a 3-pointer. ... Backup point guard Shelvin Mack missed his seventh straight game with a left calf strain.
UP NEXT
76ers: At Cleveland on Monday.
Hawks: At New Orleans on Monday.
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