Hawks host 76ers at Philips Arena
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Atlanta Hawks will try to bounce back tonight versus game homestand.
Atlanta had won three straight and nine of 11 games until dropping a 96-77 decision to the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday. Josh Smith led the Hawks with 11 points and both Joe Johnson and Ivan Johnson added 10 points in defeat.
"We've got to put up a little bit better fight than what we did in the paint" Smith said of his Hawks being beat 58-38 inside. "Hopefully everyone will learn from this game and correct it later on and just find a way not to have any let downs like that anymore."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Hawks forward Jason Collins left the game in the first quarter with a sprained left elbow and did not return. He is expected to miss Saturday's game. The Hawks, who were coming off a 4-1 road trip that left them tied with Miami for the Southeast Division lead, had their six-game home winning streak stopped and fell to 8-2 as the host this season.
The Hawks will also welcome the Suns and Pacers to Philips Arena, and now sit one game behind Miami for division supremacy.
Philadelphia is coming off Friday night's 99-79 loss to the Heat and completed a seven-game homestand with a 5-2 record. It had a four-game winning streak come to an end thanks to a poor fourth quarter versus Miami, as the Sixers were outscored by a 32-16 difference in the decisive period.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Thaddeus Young led five players in double-figure scoring with 16 points off the bench, while Jodie Meeks and Lou Williams netted 13 apiece for Philadelphia, which is still a dominant 12-3 as the host this season and made 39.5 percent of its shots. Jrue Holiday and Andre Iguodala scored 11 and 10 points, respectively, in defeat.
"Those guys cranked it up a little on us and forced us into taking a few bad shots, but we did just go cold," Young said about the fourth quarter. "We have to find a way to make shots and we couldn't do it tonight."
The 76ers hope to improve on their 4-4 road ledger tonight. They defeated Atlanta, 90-76, on Jan. 20 at Wells Fargo Center behind a game-best 20 points from Young. Holiday added 16 points and 11 assists, while Elton Brand had 10 points with 16 rebounds for Philadelphia, which has won three straight against Atlanta.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Philadelphia has lost three of its last five visits to Philips Arena.