Sixers vs. Hawks at a glance
Sixers vs. Atlanta Hawks at a glance
TEAMS: . Sixers (15-26) vs. Hawks (25-18)
WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Philips Arena
BROADCASTS: TV – CSN RADIO – 97.5 FM
SOCIAL MEDIA COVERAGE: TWITTER – @PompeyOnSixers, INSTAGRAM – PompeyOnSixers
411 ON HAWKS: The Hawks head into Saturday's matchup with a seven-game home winning streak.
Their last victory was a 102-93 decision over the Chicago Bulls on Friday night at Philips.
The SoutheastDivision leaders, however, have been on a rollercoaster of a season. They had a fast start then lost 10 of 11 games. Then they turned it around again and have won 10 of their last 12 games.
PROBABLE STARTERS
Hawks (25-18)
25 Thabo Sefoloshia SF 6-7 7.4 ppg. 1.8 spg.
4 Paul Millsap PF 6-8 17.8 ppg 8.1 rpg.
8 Dwight Howard C 6-11 13.6 ppg. 12.8 rpg.
24 Kent Bazemore SG 6-5 10.1 ppg. 2.6 apg.
17 Dennis Schroder G 6-2 17.5 ppg. 6.1 apg.
Coach: Mike Budenholzer (fourth season, 171-118)
Injury report: Mike Muscala (left ankle sprain, out), Tiago Splitter (right calf strain, out)
SIXERS (15-26)
33 Robert Covington SF 6-9 10.6 ppg. 1.66 spg.
7 Ersan Ilyasova PF 6-10 15.3 ppg. 6.2 rpg.
8 Jahlil Okafor C 6-11 11.2 ppg. 4.9 rpg.
11 Nik Stauskas SG 6-6 8.5 ppg. 2.0 apg.
1 T.J. McConnell PG 6-2 5.0 ppg. 5.5 apg.
Coach: Brett Brown (Fourth season, 62-225)
Injury report: Ben Simmons (right foot fracture, out), Jerryd Bayless, (left wrist ligament tear, out).
THE SERIES
The Hawks have won 12 of the past 13 series meetings between the two teams.
LAS VEGAS LINE
Hawks are 9 ½-point favorites
LAST SERIES MEETING
The Sixers kept attacking the glass and even kept things competitive. They just couldn't get over the hump in a 117-96 loss at Philips Arena on Nov. 12.
The Sixers were in no mood afterward for moral victories, considering they lost to the Hawks by 32 points on Oct. 29.
They were without center Joel Embiid, who had the night off to rest his right foot. They are also still without Ben Simmons (fractured right foot), Jerryd Bayless (left wrist ligament damage), and reserve center Nerlens Noel (inflamed tissue above his left knee).
The Hawks broke open the game with a 16-4 run fourth-quarter that gave them a 92-78 lead with 9 minutes, 42 seconds remaining. The Sixers didn't get any closer than 10 points the rest of the way.
The Sixers were also doomed by 19 turnovers and by shooting only 65 percent from the foul line.
Reserve guard Tim Hardaway Jr. led Atlanta with 20 points, while Bazemore added 17 points. Schroder had 16 points and eight assists. Howard finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds in what was his seventh double-double of the season.
Okafor paced the Sixers with 18 points, six rebounds, and two assists while getting the start in Embiid's absence.
Sergio Rodriguez (13 points), Dario Saric (12), Stauskas (12), and Covington (11) were the Sixers' other double-figure scorers.
The Sixers built a 27-23 lead after one quarter by taking advantage of the Hawks' nine first-quarter turnovers. They turned those giveaways into 13 points.
But Atlanta built a 59-48 halftime cushion, thanks in large part to shooting 57.1 percent in the second quarter.
UPCOMING GAMES
Tuesday: 8 p.m., at Wells Fargo Center, Los Angeles Clippers vs. Sixers
Wednesday:7 p.m., at BMO Harris Bradley Center, Sixers vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Friday: 8 p.m., at Wells Fargo Center, Houston Rockets vs. Sixers
Jan. 29: 7 p.m., at United Center, Sixers vs. Chicago Bulls
Jan. 30: 7 p.m., at Wells Fargo Center, Sacramento Kings vs. Sixers
Follow and contact 76ers beat writer Keith Pompey on Twitter and on Instagram at PompeyOnSixers.