Game Thread: Hawks vs 76ers – Complete Game Day Info (Lineups, Injury Report, Series Notes, etc.)
By David Menze
ATLANTA, GA – MARCH 06: Dorell Wright #4 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives around Kyle Korver #26 of the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena on March 6, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Josh Smith and Al Horford look to bounce back from Wednesday’s falter, as the Atlanta Hawks wrap up their four-game homestand against the Philadelphia 76ers Friday.
Carmelo Anthony came into town two days ago and dropped 40 points as the New York Knicks knocked off the Hawks 95-82.
Smith and Horford, one of the best frontcourt duos in the NBA, really struggled against a physical Knickerbocker trio featuring Melo, Kenyon Martin and Tyson Chandler.
Smith finished with 10 points on 5-of-13 shooting, and was absolutely terrible from the foul-line, missing all seven attempts. Horford only managed nine points, snapping his streak of 32 straight games scoring in double-figures. It was just the sixth time all season he tallied nine points or less in a game.
Kyle Korver was the lone offensive threat for Atlanta as the sharp-shooter drained six 3-pointers. He made wing defender Iman Shumpert look like a dog chasing his tail the way Shump hopelessly ran in circles trying to keep up with Korver who continuously ziged and zagged through screens around the court.
The Hawks were without Devin Harris, John Jenkins and Zaza Pachulia Wednesday and will be tonight as well.
Harris did not participate in shootaround today and is still recovering from a platelet-rich plasma injection he received in his toe Wednesday, according to AJC Hawks beat writer Chris Vivlamore. He’ll likely rest a couple more games and return next week.
Jenkins still has not cleared the NBA’s protocol system for concussions after sustaining a mild one against Boston last week, but was able to take part in shootaround today. He told the AJC he will be ready for Saturday’s game in San Antonio.
Pachulia had season-ending surgery Wednesday to repair an Achilles tendon. He will be out at least months and could possibly be on another team next year because he”s set to hit the market in July as an unrestricted free agent.
Vivlamore added Ivan Johnson was also not at shootaround today for personal reasons. His status for the game is unknown.
________________________________________________________________________________
Quick Facts
Who?: Atlanta Hawks vs Philadelphia 76ers
What?: Eastern Conference Showdown (Game #77, Home Game #39)
Where?: Philips Arena (Atlanta, GA)
When?: Friday, April 5, 2013 – 7:30 PM (EST)
How?: SportSouth HDTV / 680 AM & 93.7 FM
________________________________________________________________________________
Projected Starting Lineups:
Atlanta Hawks:
PG: Jeff Teague | SG: Kyle Korver | SF: DeShawn Stevenson | PF: Josh Smith | C: Al Horford
Philadelphia 76ers:
PG: Jrue Holiday | SG: Damien Wilkins | SF: Evan Turner | PF: Thaddeus Young | C: Spencer Hawes
________________________________________________________________________________
Injury/Inactive Players Report
Atlanta Hawks: Devin Harris (sore left foot), John Jenkins (mild concussion), Zaza Pachulia (Achilles surgery) and Lou Williams (torn right ACL) are out.
Philadelphia 76ers: Andrew Bynum (bilateral arthroscopic knee surgery) and Jason Richardson (left knee surgery) are out.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Current Records/Streak & Hot, Lukewarm, or Cold
Records: Atlanta Hawks (42-34) … Philadelphia 76ers (30-44)
Streaks: Atlanta Hawks –> OVERALL: Lost 1 / HOME: Lost 1 / ROAD: Lost 1 … Philadelphia 76ers –> OVERALL: Lost 1 / HOME: Won 4 / ROAD: Lost 1
Home/Away Records: Hawks are (24-14) at home … 76ers are (8-27) away.
Atlanta Hawks: Lukewarm.
Philadelphia 76ers: Cold.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Season/Past Season Series
The 76ers come to Philips Arena for the second time this year in the third-of-four tilts with the Hawks. The teams have split two games so far, each winning at home. Philadelphia struck first with a 99-80 decision on 12/21, behind 21 points from Evan Turner and Thaddeus Young’s double-double (18 points/11 rebounds). Josh Smith scored 17 to lead the Hawks. Atlanta evened things up with 107-96 triumph on 3/6, with Jeff Teague (27 points/11 assists), Al Horford (21 points/12 rebounds) and Anthony Tolliver (21 points, including a career-high five 3FGs) all scoring over 20. Former Hawk Damien Wilkins led the Sixers with 21 points. Atlanta visits Philly on 4/10 to closeout the season series. The all-time series is deadlocked at 158 wins apiece, with the Hawks holding a 97-51 advantage in home games.
LAST MEETING — HAWKS 107, 76ers 96 — PHILIPS ARENA (ATL, GA) — 3/6/13
Philadelphia jumped out to an 8-0 lead five minutes into the game as the Hawks missed their first seven shots and committed four turnovers. Atlanta responded, outscoring the visitors 26-11 the rest of the quarter for a seven-point edge after one. The Hawks pushed the lead to 59-47 at the break thanks to .650 shooting in the second quarter. A 25-7 Hawks run to close the third gave the home team a commanding 91-70 advantage with 12 minutes to play. The 76ers would not get closer than 10 the rest of the night. Jeff Teague paced Atlanta with 27 points and 11 assists and Al Horford tallied 21 points and 12 rebounds. Anthony Tolliver came off the bench to contribute a season-high 21 points (career-best 5-7 3FGs) and a season-high eight boards, while Josh Smith added 13 points. Former Hawk Damien Wilkins scored 21 to lead the Sixers and Jrue Holiday had 11 points and 12 assists. The Hawks finished the night shooting .538 FG% and hit 11 3FGs (11-24), while Philly made .430 FG% and six triples.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Common Threads
Lou Williams played 455 games for Philadelphia from 2005-12. Kyle Korver was with the 76ers for four-plus years (2003 through part of the 2007-08 season). Shelvin Mack was with the Sixers earlier this year, seeing action in four games. Bob Bender is a former 76ers assistant coach. Lester Conner was associate head coach for the Sixers in 2004-05. Hawks assistant coach Bob Weiss was the 22nd overall pick in the 1965 NBA Draft by Philadelphia and played two seasons with the club. Damien Wilkins is the nephew of Hawks Hall-of-Famer Dominique Wilkins, and spent 2010-11 with Atlanta. Royal Ivey was a second round pick of the Hawks in 2004 and played three years with the team. Thaddeus Young played college ball at Georgia Tech in 2006-07. Sixers associate head coach Michael Curry grew up in Augusta and attended Georgia Southern. Spencer Hawes is the nephew of Steve Hawes, who played for the Hawks from 1976-83. Kwame Brown played his high school ball at Glynn Academy in Brunswick, GA. Johan Petro and Wilkins were teammates with Seattle/Oklahoma City from 2005-09. DeShawn Stevenson and Nick Young played together with the Wizards (2007 through part of the 2009-10 season).
Information was used from the Hawks and Sixers official gamenotes