Observations after Sixers lose to Hawks despite George’s 35-point performance originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Sixers couldn’t turn Paul George’s biggest scoring night of the season into a victory in Atlanta.
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Despite George’s 35 points, the Sixers fell to a 120-117 loss to the Hawks on Sunday at State Farm Arena.
Joel Embiid posted his first double-double of the season with 22 points and 14 rebounds. VJ Edgecombe had 26 points and six boards.
The 15-12 Hawks got 27 points and 10 rebounds from Dyson Daniels. Onyeka Okongwu recorded 20 points and 15 rebounds. Jalen Johnson had a triple-double with 12 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds.
The 14-11 Sixers were without Tyrese Maxey (illness), Kelly Oubre Jr. (left knee LCL sprain) and Trendon Watford (left adductor strain).
Atlanta’s absences included Trae Young (right knee MCL sprain) and Kristaps Porzingis (illness).
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The Sixers will next play on Friday night when they visit the Knicks. Here are observations on their loss to the Hawks:
Unorthodox off the bench
The Sixers were forced to make an early sub after Edgecombe committed two fouls as the last man back on defense following live-ball Sixers turnovers.
Jared McCain checked in with 7:28 left in the first quarter. Soon after entering, he fouled Vit Krejci on a three-point attempt. Krejci burned the Sixers in the first period, scoring 11 points on 3-for-3 shooting. The Sixers fell behind 35-26 on a Krejci three.
On the Sixers’ side, the team posted zero bench points in the first.
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Sixers head coach Nick Nurse shifted to a very veteran guard option about four minutes into the second quarter. Kyle Lowry replaced McCain, appearing for his fourth game of the year. Nurse used perhaps his most unconventional lineup yet this season for a couple of minutes in the second quarter, playing an Embiid-Andre Drummond frontcourt with Lowry on the back line of the Sixers’ zone defense.
Nurse returned to McCain in the second half and Lowry stayed on the bench. McCain continued to come up empty as a shooter. He finished with no points on 0-for-5 shooting, five assists, three rebounds and two steals in 18 minutes. Justin Edwards also had an 0-for-5 night.
George still trending up
George was happy to take charge with Embiid on the bench at the start of the second quarter.
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He drained consecutive three-pointers, converted an and-one leaner, and ran the offense in smooth, confident fashion.
The 35-year-old forward has talked often about the value of stringing games together and gaining rhythm. He’s certainly trending up as a scorer. After posting a season-best 23 points Friday in a win over the Pacers, he stormed past that number in Atlanta and scored his most points as a Sixer.
Led by George, the Sixers made a second-quarter run and went up on 42-41 on an Edgecombe driving layup.
Hawks hold on
The Hawks double teamed Embiid after just about every one of his catches inside the arc.
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He frequently tried to attack from the middle of the floor before Atlanta could bring help defense. The idea was sound, but Embiid’s execution was uneven. He fell to 4 for 15 from the floor early in the third quarter when he missed a contested lefty attempt inside.
On a positive note, Embiid had his best rebounding game of the season, exceeding his prior high of nine boards Friday vs. Indiana. He had good instincts and activity on the offensive glass.
Edgecombe carried the Sixers’ offense in the third quarter.
The 20-year-old hit his second straight 20-point performance with an and-one layup that cut Atlanta’s lead to 89-86. He took available jumpers without hesitation, drove hard and piled up 17 points in the third period.
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Zaccharie Risacher’s three early in the fourth quarter extended the Hawks’ advantage to 106-96. George then scored five points in a row, including a long-range jumper from the left wing. He sunk a season-high seven three-pointers and only missed three. George even banked one in and swished a tightly guarded fourth-quarter jumper just before the shot clock expired.
Through 10 games, he’s at 43.3 percent beyond the arc on the season, which is 7.5 percent better than last year.
The game remained tight down the stretch. With an Edgecombe layup and a Quentin Grimes three, the Sixers pulled within one point.
They had a late chance to grab the lead. George missed a corner three over Krejci, but Edgecombe leapt high for the offensive rebound. Nurse elected not to use a timeout and Grimes eventually tried a three from the right wing. It bounced off the back rim.
Grimes wound up getting one more clutch three-point shot, but his game-tying corner attempt at the final buzzer didn’t drop.
