The Eastern Conference semifinal series between the 76ers and Hawks is tied 1-1 as it shifts to Atlanta on Friday night for the first time. Despite being on a long home winning streak, the Hawks are 1.5-point underdogs on the NBA odds. The total is 224.5.

76ers vs. Hawks NBA Playoff Odds

Atlanta had taken over as the series betting favourite following a Game 1 upset win in Philadelphia, but with the Sixers taking Game 2 they are now -263 on the series line with the Hawks +190. The favoured series correct score is 76ers in seven at +250, and that’s where this writer is leaning right now. Atlanta in five is the +1000 long shot. That the series ends in six games is a slight +137 favourite over in seven (+140). The correct score after Game 4, which is Monday, is a 2-2 draw at -120.

To win the Eastern Conference, Philadelphia is a +325 second-favourite behind Brooklyn with Atlanta +2500.

The Sixers made one visit to Atlanta in the regular season and it was way back on Jan. 11 – the Hawks rolled 112-94. Trae Young had 26 points and Clint Capela 12 points and 11 rebounds. The Sixers did have star Joel Embiid (24 points, 11 rebounds), but were without a handful of other guys, including Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris, due to injury/COVID.

The Hawks have covered six straight at home in the series.

Philadelphia 76ers

That there was an extra day off between Tuesday’s Game 2 and Friday’s Game 3 should only help Philadelphia superstar Joel Embiid and his bad knee. Embiid learned before Game 2 that he lost out on regular-season MVP, as expected, to Denver’s Nikola Jokic. Embiid took out his frustrations on the Hawks in the 118-102 victory with 40 points and 13 rebounds. Tobias Harris had 22 points and Seth Curry 21, including 5-for-6 from deep.

Shake Milton had barely been playing off the bench of late but provided a spark with 14 points and a plus-15 rating in 14 minutes. That Philly bench was awful in Game 1. Still, there are two reasons for concern for the Sixers: Ben Simmons (four points, 0-for-2 from the free-throw line; he simply can’t shoot from there any longer) and former Raptor Danny Green (five points) continue to struggle on offence. Philadelphia was 1-1 on the road in Round 1 – that loss vs. Washington was when Embiid was unable to play after the first quarter. The Sixers are 2-5 ATS after an against the spread win.

Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks haven’t had arguably their best all-around player in forward D’Andre Hunter yet in this series and the team announced after Game 2 that Hunter was done for the year because of a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee. Hunter averaged 15.0 points and 4.8 rebounds during the regular season and is the club’s best perimeter defender. Solomon Hill started again for him in the Game 2 loss but was invisible with zero points and a minus-18 rating in eight minutes. Coach Nate McMillan may be forced to start someone else over Hill.

Trae Young was held somewhat in check in Game 2 with 21 points in shooting just 1-for-7 from deep but did have 11 assists. Clint Capela couldn’t deal with Embiid and was minus-25 in his 28 minutes. The two players with positive plus/minus ratings were reserves Danilo Gallinari (21 points) and Kevin Huerter (20 points). Atlanta won both home games in Round 1 vs. the Knicks and is on an NBA-best 13-game home winning streak overall. The Hawks are 5-2 ATS in their past seven as home dogs.

NBA Playoff Prediction: Who Will Win 76ers vs. Hawks?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

76ers Team Leaders

PHI

Points	Joel Embiid 28.45
Assists	Ben Simmons 6.91
Rebounds	Joel Embiid 10.57
FG%	Dwight Howard 58.7
Steals	Matisse Thybulle 1.62
Blocks	Joel Embiid 1.35

ATL

Points	Trae Young 25.3
Assists	Trae Young 9.43
Rebounds	Clint Capela 14.33
FG%	Onyeka Okongwu 64.4
Steals	Cam Reddish 1.27
Blocks	Clint Capela 2.05

PHI

Points	Joel Embiid 28.09
Assists	Ben Simmons 8.83
Rebounds	Joel Embiid 10.55
FG%	Ben Simmons 62.1
Steals	Matisse Thybulle 1.33
Blocks	Joel Embiid 1.45

ATL

Points	Trae Young 28.81
Assists	Trae Young 9.5
Rebounds	Clint Capela 11.17
FG%	Skylar Mays 80
Steals	Bogdan Bogdanovic 1.61
Blocks	Clint Capela 1.06

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Hawks Team Leaders

PHI

Points	Joel Embiid 28.45
Assists	Ben Simmons 6.91
Rebounds	Joel Embiid 10.57
FG%	Dwight Howard 58.7
Steals	Matisse Thybulle 1.62
Blocks	Joel Embiid 1.35

ATL

Points	Trae Young 25.3
Assists	Trae Young 9.43
Rebounds	Clint Capela 14.33
FG%	Onyeka Okongwu 64.4
Steals	Cam Reddish 1.27
Blocks	Clint Capela 2.05

PHI

Points	Joel Embiid 28.09
Assists	Ben Simmons 8.83
Rebounds	Joel Embiid 10.55
FG%	Ben Simmons 62.1
Steals	Matisse Thybulle 1.33
Blocks	Joel Embiid 1.45

ATL

Points	Trae Young 28.81
Assists	Trae Young 9.5
Rebounds	Clint Capela 11.17
FG%	Skylar Mays 80
Steals	Bogdan Bogdanovic 1.61
Blocks	Clint Capela 1.06

Injuries

Philadelphia

Danny Green (SG)

Late June Calf - 11 / 06 / 21

Seth Curry (SG)

Prob Wed Ankle - 01 / 06 / 21

George Hill (PG)

Prob Wed Knee - 01 / 06 / 21

Tobias Harris (SF)

Prob Sat Ankle - 28 / 05 / 21

Seth Curry (SG)

Prob Sat Ankle - 28 / 05 / 21

Seth Curry (SG)

Ques Wed Hand - 24 / 05 / 21

Tobias Harris (SF)

Ques Sun Rest - 16 / 05 / 21

Furkan Korkmaz (SG)

Prob Sun Ankle - 15 / 05 / 21

Shake Milton (PG)

Prob Sun Knee - 15 / 05 / 21

Danny Green (SG)

Ques Sun Hip - 15 / 05 / 21

Atlanta

Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG)

Prob Sat Knee - 02 / 07 / 21

Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG)

Prob Thurs Knee - 30 / 06 / 21

Clint Capela (C)

Prob Thurs Eye - 29 / 06 / 21

Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG)

Prob Tues Knee - 29 / 06 / 21

Trae Young (PG)

Prob Sat Foot - 28 / 06 / 21

Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG)

Ques Sun Knee - 27 / 06 / 21

Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG)

Prob Fri Knee - 24 / 06 / 21

Kevin Huerter (SG)

Prob Wed Ankle - 22 / 06 / 21

Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG)

Prob Wed Knee - 22 / 06 / 21

Bruno Fernando (PF)

Elig Wed Suspension - 21 / 06 / 21

Injuries

Philadelphia

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Danny Green (SG)	Late June	Calf - 11 / 06 / 21	3-2	1-4	+ -
Green has a right calf strain, and he will be sidelined for two to three weeks.
Seth Curry (SG)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 01 / 06 / 21	4-4	4-4	+ -
Curry is dealing with a left ankle sprain, but he is likely to be in the lineup versus the Wizards for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round.
George Hill (PG)	Prob Wed	Knee - 01 / 06 / 21	4-4	4-4	+ -
Hill is battling a left knee contusion, but he is projected to be available for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Wizards.
Tobias Harris (SF)	Prob Sat	Ankle - 28 / 05 / 21	6-4	5-5	+ -
Harris is expected to line up for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Wizards despite an ankle injury.
Seth Curry (SG)	Prob Sat	Ankle - 28 / 05 / 21	6-4	5-5	+ -
Curry is tending to a left ankle sprain, but it is projected that he will face the Wizards in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Seth Curry (SG)	Ques Wed	Hand - 24 / 05 / 21	6-5	6-5	+ -
Curry is tending to a hand injury, and it has yet to be established if he will face the Wizards in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Tobias Harris (SF)	Ques Sun	Rest - 16 / 05 / 21	8-5	8-5	+ -
Harris is dealing with right knee recovery, and he will receive a day of rest on Sunday versus the Magic.
Furkan Korkmaz (SG)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 15 / 05 / 21	8-5	8-5	+ -
Korkmaz is projected to take on the Magic on Sunday despite a right ankle sprain.
Shake Milton (PG)	Prob Sun	Knee - 15 / 05 / 21	8-5	8-5	+ -
Milton is managing right knee soreness, but it is likely that he will participate in Sunday's matchup with the Magic.
Danny Green (SG)	Ques Sun	Hip - 15 / 05 / 21	8-5	8-5	+ -
Green is dealing with a hip injury, and it is unclear if he will be active for the Eastern Conference first round against the Wizards.

Atlanta

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG)	Prob Sat	Knee - 02 / 07 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Bogdanovic is bothered by right knee soreness, but he is expected to be in the lineup for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals versus the Bucks.
Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG)	Prob Thurs	Knee - 30 / 06 / 21	1-2	1-2	+ -
Bogdanovic is bothered by right knee soreness, but he is expected to be in the lineup for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals versus the Bucks.
Clint Capela (C)	Prob Thurs	Eye - 29 / 06 / 21	1-2	1-2	+ -
Capela is dealing with right eye inflammation, but it is anticipated that he will take on the Bucks in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG)	Prob Tues	Knee - 29 / 06 / 21	1-2	1-2	+ -
Bogdanovic is bothered by right knee soreness, but he is expected to be in the lineup for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals versus the Bucks.
Trae Young (PG)	Prob Sat	Foot - 28 / 06 / 21	1-3	1-3	+ -
Young is nursing a right foot bone contusion, and it is projected he will suit up for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals versus the Bucks.
Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG)	Ques Sun	Knee - 27 / 06 / 21	1-3	1-3	+ -
Bogdanovic is nursing a knee injury, and it is unclear if he will be active for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals versus the Bucks.
Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG)	Prob Fri	Knee - 24 / 06 / 21	3-3	2-4	+ -
Bogdanovic is bothered by right knee soreness, but he is expected to be in the line up for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals versus the Bucks.
Kevin Huerter (SG)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 22 / 06 / 21	3-3	2-4	+ -
Huerter is expected to take on the Bucks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals despite left ankle soreness.
Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG)	Prob Wed	Knee - 22 / 06 / 21	3-3	2-4	+ -
Bogdanovic is bothered by right knee soreness, but it is expected that he will line up for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals versus the Bucks.
Bruno Fernando (PF)	Elig Wed	Suspension - 21 / 06 / 21	3-3	2-4	+ -
Fernando is serving a one-game suspension for leaving the bench during an on-court altercation, and he is eligible to return for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals versus the Bucks.