With both Eastern Conference semifinals series now both at a 3-2 lead we look at Game 5 of the Hawks against the 76ers. The Hawks were staring at a 26 point 76er lead but being down big late in games has never stopped this team before. On the back of Trae Young, the Atlanta Hawks put on a show in the fourth quarter and ended up taking the win 109-106 and taking a 3-2 series lead.
This is not the first time the team has done what is close to impossible. Just last Monday Hawks overcame an 18 point Philly lead to steal a win.
“There’s no quit,” Atlanta coach Nate McMillan said after his team’s 109-106 win in Philadelphia. “We always talk about playing a 48-minute game. It’s a long game. And it took all 48 minutes tonight to get it done,” McMillan added, per ESPN.
Trae Young continues to amaze in the series and scored 39 points with 7 assists and 1 rebound during Game 5. Ben Simmons on the other hand is struggling to score, with only 8 points with 9 assists and 4 rebounds in the contest.
The 76ers became the only team to lose back-to-back 18 point lead games in the playoffs in the last 25 NBA seasons. The 26 points halftime deficit is the third-largest halftime rally in postseason history and it brought the Hawks one win closer to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Philly will either win or go home in Game 6
The Hawks have to smell blood in the water after this 76ers team is the first to lose after leading by 25 or more in the post or regular season in over 25 years. Even with a monster game from Joel Embiid who had 37 points and from Seth Curry who had 36 points it just was not enough to hold out against Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks.
Now, all fans can do is sit and wait to see who will come out on top in Game 6 scheduled for Saturday night. Will the Hawks close out the series and earn a ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals? Or will the 76ers hold on and force a game 7?
If the Hawks do close out the series it is possible they will have some rest if the Milwaukee Bucks can win tonight and force a game seven against the Brooklyn Nets. Either way, the next game in this series is going to be very interesting especially with the possibility of a game 7.