The season is on the line for the Eastern Conference top-seeded Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night as they visit the fifth-seeded Atlanta Hawks down 3-2 in their series. However, the Sixers are 3-point favourites to win Game 6 on the NBA odds with a total of 221.5 points.

76ers vs. Hawks NBA Playoff Odds

With Atlanta now up 3-2 in this series, the Hawks are, for the first time, favoured (-167) to win the series. The Sixers are +140. Yet to win the Eastern Conference, Philadelphia (+550) is ahead of Atlanta (+800). That’s oddsmakers believing the Sixers have a better shot in the East Finals against either Brooklyn or Milwaukee than the Hawks would.

Wednesday was a very unusual night of Game 5s around the NBA as the top-seeded team in each conference, Philadelphia and Utah, was at least a 7-point favourite to take a 3-2 series lead, yet both lost outright at home.

If there is a Game 7 in this series, it would be Sunday back in Philadelphia. If there’s not a Game 7, there are going to be significant changes with the 76ers, mark my words. They are 1-6 against the spread in their past seven games in Atlanta. The over is 8-3 in the past 11 meetings there.

Philadelphia 76ers

Sixers fans are crushing Coach Doc Rivers right now, and perhaps deservedly so. His team blew an 18-point lead in Game 4 and lost in Atlanta. On Wednesday Rivers’ club blew a 26-point third-quarter lead and was shocked 109-106 at home. That’s easily one of the biggest postseason choke jobs in NBA history. The 76ers were 165-0 in the past 25 seasons when leading by at least 25 points at any point in a game. When the Sixers were up 70-44 with about nine minutes left in the third, they were given a 99.7 per cent chance of winning via ESPN’s models and Atlanta was around +3500 on the live odds to win.

Joel Embiid bounced back from an awful Game 4 with 37 points and 13 rebounds but missed two crucial late free-throws – he had made 20 in a row prior to that. Seth Curry blew up for 36 points, but no other 76ers player had more than eight. In fact, no Sixers player other than Embiid and Curry made a basket in the entire second half. That should be impossible. All-Star Ben Simmons (he might be traded this off-season) was nothing short of terrible offensively as was Tobias Harris. The Sixers are 4-1 ATS in their past five following an ATS loss.

Atlanta Hawks

Momentum completely changed for the Hawks with just under two minutes remaining in the third quarter when coach Nate McMillan brought in three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams but also kept in star guard Trae Young. They don’t play together often because while both are great scorers, they are horrible defenders. However, Williams started making everything in sight and then Young got hot as well.

In the final quarter, Atlanta outscored Philadelphia 40-19 (15-2 run to close it) with the Hawks shooting 16-for-22 from the field. Young finished with 39 points (17-for-19 from free-throw line) and Williams 15 points (13 in the fourth) and a whopping plus-31 rating in his 23 minutes. That the Hawks won despite getting a combined 12 points from starters Clint Capela, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Kevin Huerter is astonishing. It’s possible that forward Cam Reddish could play in Game 6. He has been out since late February but has been medically cleared. Atlanta is 4-1 ATS in its past five after a win.

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.