The Philadelphia Sixers now lead two wins to one in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks. Friday, in Game 3, the Pennsylvania franchise won (127-111) at its opponent, driven by Joel Embiid (27 points, nine rebounds, eight assists) and Tobias Harris (22 pts).
But the entire Philadelphia team worked to win. And this deserved success allows the 76ers to recover the advantage of the floor, lost in Game 1, when the Hawks had made a better start (128-124), in the wake of Trae Young, their slalom machine and scorer, then author of 35 points.
But since then, the young Atlanta star has had less impact offensively for the Georgia franchise, as he has a leech clinging to his sneakers, Ben Simmons (18 points and seven assists on Friday), who finished second in the race. to the best defender of the season, behind Rudy Gobert.
Under the eyes of Julius Erving
On Friday, Young was not unworthy, however, but his 28 points (plus eight assists) did not weigh enough. The Hawks point guard did not hide his frustration, attacking the referees, whom he asked to put on binoculars, after decisions he considered bad.
The Philadelphia Sixers did not need to take advantage of this to impose their superiority, under the eyes of Adam Silver, the boss of the NBA, and Julius Erving, their former glory, craftsman of the last league title of the team (in 1983).
46 points scored by bench players
In the wake of Embiid and Harris, players from the bench contributed 46 points. So much so that “Philly” shot at 58.2% success, while being stronger on physical impact, especially during the largely won third quarter (34-19).
Opposite, like Trae Young, he missed the little spark that forces decisions, even if John Collins (23 pts) and Bogdan Bogdanovic (19) had their usual contribution. But the play-offs, at this stage, require much more to continue there. Philadelphia and Atlanta will meet Monday for Game 4, on the floor of the seconds.