Sixers Fall Short in Atlanta: Three Takeaways from a Frustrating Finish
ATLANTA - The Philadelphia 76ers had their shot. Multiple shots, actually.
But in a game that came down to execution in the final minute, the Sixers couldn’t quite close the deal, falling 120-117 to the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday night. The loss drops Philly to 14-11 on the season and 0-2 against Atlanta, with both matchups coming down to the wire.
Paul George led the way with a 35-point performance that reminded everyone why the Sixers brought him in this past offseason. Joel Embiid added a double-double with 22 points and 14 boards, while rookie VJ Edgecombe continued his strong play with 26 points and six rebounds. Quentin Grimes chipped in 14 points and seven assists, and Dominick Barlow added 11 and seven off the bench.
Let’s break down the three biggest takeaways from a game that slipped through Philadelphia’s fingers.
1. Late-Game Chaos Proves Costly
With just over a minute to go and the Sixers trailing by one, the stage was set for a clutch finish. Grimes had just buried a big-time three to cut the deficit to 118-117.
Then came a stop on the other end, with Embiid securing the rebound after Onyeka Okongwu missed inside. That gave Philly a golden opportunity with 43.8 seconds left.
What followed was a possession that felt more like a scramble drill than a set play. Paul George missed a three.
Edgecombe grabbed the offensive board. The ball swung to Embiid, who passed up an open look from the wing and instead found Grimes for another three - this one didn’t fall.
Atlanta corralled the rebound, and just like that, the Sixers’ best chance to take the lead was gone.
There’s a fair question to be asked about whether head coach Nick Nurse should’ve called a timeout to settle things down and draw something up. But Nurse stood by the decision to let the play unfold.
“When we get a stop, we want to get up the floor and hit them before the defense is set,” Nurse explained postgame. “They were moving the ball.
They had some looks. Two cracks at it.
Guys who had been making shots. I’ll have to look at it again, but I think the possession was probably OK.”
It’s the kind of moment that can define a game - and maybe a season - if the team doesn’t learn from it. Execution under pressure is everything in this league.
2. Paul George Looks Like the Real Deal
This is the Paul George the Sixers were banking on when they signed him to a four-year deal over the summer. Efficient.
Explosive. In control.
George poured in 35 points on 11-of-21 shooting, including a scorching 7-for-9 from beyond the arc. He looked every bit the nine-time All-Star - and then some.
But it wasn’t just the scoring that stood out. George was getting downhill, beating defenders off the dribble, and creating space in the midrange.
He was physical in the post, decisive in the paint, and showed off his playmaking chops once he got into the lane. And on the defensive end, he held his own against a Hawks team that can throw plenty of weapons at you.
“Obviously, the 35's great and the seven threes are amazing,” said Nurse. “But I like the way he's getting by people.
He's getting downhill, holding off post-ups, getting to his spots. He just looks like he’s creating a lot of opportunities.”
That’s exactly what the Sixers need from George - not just a scorer, but a creator who can take pressure off Embiid and unlock the offense in different ways. If this version of PG stays healthy, Philly’s ceiling gets a whole lot higher.
3. The Grind of the Season Starts to Show
This was one of those games the Sixers were winning earlier in the year. Tight contest, late-game pressure, a few clutch plays - they were finding ways to pull these out. But the NBA season is a marathon, not a sprint, and Sunday night was a reminder of just how fine the margins can be.
There were missed opportunities - not just in the final minute, but throughout the fourth quarter. Defensive lapses gave Atlanta clean looks from deep.
There was a no-call on a potential backcourt violation that raised some eyebrows. And there were moments where the Sixers just didn’t look as sharp as they needed to be.
Still, this is part of the process. Teams hit bumps. They have to learn how to close, how to adapt, how to respond.
“These are the games we were winning at the beginning of the season,” said Grimes. “We know we’re not gonna win them all.
Just had too many lapses late in that fourth - they got some threes off. We’ve got to come in, watch film, get better, and just keep working.”
The Sixers now get four days off before heading to New York to face the Knicks on Friday. That’s a valuable window to reset, regroup, and clean up some of the late-game execution that cost them in Atlanta.
Bottom Line: The Sixers had their chances. They just didn’t capitalize.
But with Paul George hitting his stride and the team still figuring things out, there’s no reason to hit the panic button. It’s a long season - and the lessons from nights like this one could pay dividends down the stretch.