Hawks Look to Stay Hot, 76ers Desperate for Playoff Hope

The Atlanta Hawks (34-29) continue their push for a solid playoff position as they prepare to host the Philadelphia 76ers (28-35) on Monday. The Hawks have been on a roll, winning three of their last four games, including a 120-118 win over Indiana on Saturday. On the other hand, the Sixers have been in a free fall, dropping 12 of their last 14 games. However, they managed to snap a three-game losing streak with a 126-122 victory over Utah on Sunday.

Playoff Picture: Hawks Gaining Ground, Sixers Slipping

Atlanta currently sits in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, holding a half-game lead over Orlando and Miami in the tight play-in race. They trail sixth-seeded Detroit by 5.5 games, meaning they still have a shot to secure a guaranteed playoff spot if they keep winning. Philadelphia, however, is in dangerous territory, sitting 3.5 games behind Chicago for the final play-in spot. If the Sixers can’t turn things around soon, their postseason hopes could slip away completely.

Hawks Finding Their Stride at the Right Time

One of the biggest X-factors for Atlanta lately has been Onyeka Okongwu, who has been a dominant force in the paint. On Saturday, he scored 16 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, securing his third double-double in the last four games. He’s been playing with high energy on both ends of the court, providing a much-needed spark for the Hawks. Meanwhile, Dyson Daniels is making a name for himself defensively, adding five more steals on Saturday. He now leads the NBA in steals per game (3.0 SPG) and has a total of 178 steals this season—the most by any player since Ricky Rubio’s 191 in 2013-14. Trae Young continues to prove his toughness, shaking off a knee-to-thigh hit on Saturday to return in the fourth quarter and drop 36 points. He remains the driving force behind Atlanta’s offense and will be key in Monday’s matchup.

76ers Fighting Through Injuries and Fatigue

The biggest problem for Philadelphia has been its long list of injuries, which has left them short-handed and struggling to keep pace. Joel Embiid, Jared McCain, and Eric Gordon are all out for the season, while Paul George and Tyrese Maxey are also sidelined.

With so many key players missing, Sixers coach Nick Nurse has been forced to rely heavily on Kelly Oubre Jr., Quentin Grimes, and Guerschon Yabusele. However, Nurse admitted that these players are logging too many minutes, and he plans to be more mindful of their workload moving forward.

“We’ve pushed some guys pretty far over the past few weeks,” Nurse said. “We’ve got to find a way to balance things out and see if our second unit can hold up.”

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Head-to-Head: Hawks vs. 76ers

Monday’s game will be the first meeting of the season between these two teams, but they will see each other two more times before the regular season ends (March 23 in Atlanta, April 11 in Philadelphia).

Last season, they split their four matchups, but the Hawks have won the last two meetings. Given Philadelphia’s injury woes and recent struggles, Atlanta could be in prime position to extend that streak.

Game Outlook & Prediction

Atlanta is playing consistent, high-energy basketball at just the right time, while Philadelphia is struggling to stay afloat with a depleted roster. The Hawks have the clear advantage in this matchup, especially with Trae Young, Okongwu, and Dyson Daniels firing on all cylinders.

Philadelphia’s best chance is to control the tempo and slow down Atlanta’s offensive attack, but with fatigue setting in and a lack of depth, it’s going to be a tough task.

Expect the Hawks to control the pace and secure another key win in their playoff push, while the 76ers’ postseason hopes take another hit.

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Prediction: Hawks 118, 76ers 106

Can the Sixers defy the odds and keep their playoff dreams alive, or will the Hawks continue their surge toward the postseason? Monday’s game will be a crucial test for both teams.