Two teams that have seen the return of their stars meet when the Philadelphia 76ers visit the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday night.

Scheduling has these teams in very different positions, as Atlanta is completing a back-to-back swing (albeit at home), whereas Philly hasn’t played since Monday night.

The home team Hawks are slight 2-point favourites to win on the NBA odds. The over-under is 222.5.

76ers vs. Hawks NBA Betting Odds

It wasn’t long ago when the two Eastern Conference foes clashed in the second round of the playoffs. June 2021 saw the rivals duke it out in a tight, seven-game series the Hawks won 4-3. The series is remembered less for how well Atlanta played than for how it was the last time Ben Simmons wore a Sixers jersey.

Most of those games were close and that trend continued last year for three contests. The Pennsylvania-based unit won two of three. One game was decided by seven points, another by only two.

Philly sports a mediocre 5-6 record against the spread this year. It’s been a little bit maddening for betters to figure them out. They tend to win when they’re underdogs and lose when they’re favourites. Of note, they’re covered more often on the road than at home this season.

As for the Georgia club, they’ve earned a 5-5-1 record against the spread. Given their 7-4 win-loss tally, this suggests the team is often involved in tighter games than the spread suggests they will be. They win a fair amount of their games, but those who pay heed to spreads should take notice.

Philadelphia 76ers

Doc River’s squad earned a couple of days off with a 100-88 win over the Phoenix Suns Monday night, one of the NBA’s best teams. Mind you, Suns point guard Chris Paul missed most of the game due to an injury, but the team is pretty good without him typically. The 100-88 win was no doubt boosted by the return of centre Joel Embiid. While his shooting night wasn’t terrific (8-for-21) he punished Phoenix at the free throw line, going 16-16. George Niang went off from beyond the arc, hitting seven of 10 three-point shots.

The matchup against Atlanta should prove interesting from a three-point shooting perspective. Philly is the third-ranked three-point shooting team in the NBA, whereas Atlanta has the sixth-best defence against opponents firing from that range.

Atlanta Hawks

It’s been a bit of a strange week for Nate McMillan’s Hawks. On Monday they were without the services of superstar Trae Young and had to contend with the Milwaukee Bucks. They fooled a lot of people (including this author) by taking care of business with a 117-98 victory. Usual bench players AJ Griffin and Justin Holiday had games to remember, with the latter scorching the Bucks from three-point land.

Then on Wednesday night, with Trae Young, they suffered a 125-199 defeat at the hands of the surging Utah Jazz, despite holding a 10-point lead and looking good at home in the third quarter. Scoring 119 points is a good showing, and the offence was nicely distributed between Young (22 pts), Dejounte Murray (28pts), and De’Andre Hunter (22pts). The problem was the defence. Utah looked too fast for Atlanta to handle at times, with terrific transitions and ball movement. Rising Jazz star Lauri Markkanen was frequently wide open from beyond the arc and drained six of his eight shots from distance.

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

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

76ers Team Leaders

PHI

Points	Joel Embiid 33.08
Assists	James Harden 10.66
Rebounds	Joel Embiid 10.15
FG%	Saben Lee 75
Steals	De'Anthony Melton 1.64
Blocks	Joel Embiid 1.7

ATL

Points	Trae Young 26.22
Assists	Trae Young 10.15
Rebounds	Clint Capela 11.03
FG%	Clint Capela 65.3
Steals	Dejounte Murray 1.51
Blocks	Onyeka Okongwu 1.34

PHI

Points	Joel Embiid 23.67
Assists	James Harden 8.27
Rebounds	Joel Embiid 9.78
FG%	Jaden Springer 100
Steals	James Harden 1.82
Blocks	Joel Embiid 2.78

ATL

Points	Trae Young 29.17
Assists	Trae Young 10.17
Rebounds	Clint Capela 8.33
FG%	Clint Capela 60.5
Steals	Dejounte Murray 2
Blocks	Onyeka Okongwu 1.33

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Hawks Team Leaders

PHI

Points	Joel Embiid 33.08
Assists	James Harden 10.66
Rebounds	Joel Embiid 10.15
FG%	Saben Lee 75
Steals	De'Anthony Melton 1.64
Blocks	Joel Embiid 1.7

ATL

Points	Trae Young 26.22
Assists	Trae Young 10.15
Rebounds	Clint Capela 11.03
FG%	Clint Capela 65.3
Steals	Dejounte Murray 1.51
Blocks	Onyeka Okongwu 1.34

PHI

Points	Joel Embiid 23.67
Assists	James Harden 8.27
Rebounds	Joel Embiid 9.78
FG%	Jaden Springer 100
Steals	James Harden 1.82
Blocks	Joel Embiid 2.78

ATL

Points	Trae Young 29.17
Assists	Trae Young 10.17
Rebounds	Clint Capela 8.33
FG%	Clint Capela 60.5
Steals	Dejounte Murray 2
Blocks	Onyeka Okongwu 1.33

Injuries

Philadelphia

Tyrese Maxey (PG)

day-to-day Ankle - 01 / 05 / 23

Danuel House Jr. (SF)

Prob Mon Illness - 20 / 04 / 23

Jalen McDaniels (PF)

Prob Thurs Illness - 19 / 04 / 23

Dewayne Dedmon (C)

Prob Sat Undisclosed - 14 / 04 / 23

Danuel House Jr. (SF)

Prob Sat Foot - 12 / 04 / 23

James Harden (SG)

Prob Sat Achilles - 08 / 04 / 23

Tobias Harris (SF)

Prob Sat Hip - 08 / 04 / 23

Georges Niang (SF)

Prob Sat Knee - 08 / 04 / 23

James Harden (SG)

Out Fri Rest - 07 / 04 / 23

Tobias Harris (SF)

Out Fri Rest - 07 / 04 / 23

Atlanta

Dejounte Murray (PG)

Elig Thurs Suspension - 24 / 04 / 23

Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG)

Prob Tues Knee - 08 / 04 / 23

Clint Capela (C)

Prob Tues Calf - 08 / 04 / 23

John Collins (PF)

Prob Tues Back - 08 / 04 / 23

De'Andre Hunter (PF)

Prob Sun Knee - 08 / 04 / 23

Trae Young (PG)

Prob Tues Groin - 08 / 04 / 23

Dejounte Murray (PG)

Prob Tues Ankle - 08 / 04 / 23

Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG)

Out Wed Rest - 05 / 04 / 23

Trae Young (PG)

Prob Wed Illness - 03 / 04 / 23

De'Andre Hunter (PF)

Prob Fri Knee - 30 / 03 / 23

Injuries

Philadelphia

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Tyrese Maxey (PG)	day-to-day	Ankle - 01 / 05 / 23	4-3	4-3	+ -
Maxey exited Monday's game with an ankle injury, and it is unknown if he will return.
Danuel House Jr. (SF)	Prob Mon	Illness - 20 / 04 / 23	5-3	4-5	+ -
House Jr. is ailing from an illness, but it is anticipated that he will suit up against the Celtics Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Jalen McDaniels (PF)	Prob Thurs	Illness - 19 / 04 / 23	5-3	4-5	+ -
McDaniels is nursing an illness, but it is not expected to affect his status against the Nets in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Dewayne Dedmon (C)	Prob Sat	Undisclosed - 14 / 04 / 23	7-3	6-5	+ -
Dedmon has an unspecified ailment, but it is projected that he will participate in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Nets.
Danuel House Jr. (SF)	Prob Sat	Foot - 12 / 04 / 23	7-3	6-5	+ -
House Jr. has a foot injury, but it is likely that he will suit up against the Nets in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
James Harden (SG)	Prob Sat	Achilles - 08 / 04 / 23	8-3	7-5	+ -
Harden is managing a left Achilles injury, but it is not expected to affect his status for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Nets.
Tobias Harris (SF)	Prob Sat	Hip - 08 / 04 / 23	8-3	7-5	+ -
Harris is nursing a left hip injury, but it is expected that he will be in the lineup for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Nets.
Georges Niang (SF)	Prob Sat	Knee - 08 / 04 / 23	8-3	7-5	+ -
Niang is tending to left knee soreness, but it is likely that he will partake in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Nets.
James Harden (SG)	Out Fri	Rest - 07 / 04 / 23	8-4	8-5	+ -
Harden will not face the Hawks on Friday as he will be given a day of rest.
Tobias Harris (SF)	Out Fri	Rest - 07 / 04 / 23	8-4	8-5	+ -
Harris is out of the starting lineup for Friday's matchup with the Hawks as he will be handed a day of rest.

Atlanta

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Dejounte Murray (PG)	Elig Thurs	Suspension - 24 / 04 / 23	1-1	2-0	+ -
Murray is undergoing a single game suspension for inappropriate conduct towards a game official, and he will be eligible to return against the Celtics in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG)	Prob Tues	Knee - 08 / 04 / 23	2-5	5-2	+ -
Bogdanovic is dealing with right knee soreness, but he is expected to suit up against the Heat in the Eastern Conference Play-in tournament.
Clint Capela (C)	Prob Tues	Calf - 08 / 04 / 23	2-5	5-2	+ -
Capela is nursing right calf tightness, but it is anticipated that he will be available for the Eastern Conference Play-in tournament versus the Heat.
John Collins (PF)	Prob Tues	Back - 08 / 04 / 23	2-5	5-2	+ -
Collins is hampered by low back tightness, but it is forecasted that he will face the Heat in the Eastern Conference Play-in tournament.
De'Andre Hunter (PF)	Prob Sun	Knee - 08 / 04 / 23	2-5	5-2	+ -
Hunter is managing soreness in his left knee, but it is not expected to impact his status against the Celtics on Sunday.
Trae Young (PG)	Prob Tues	Groin - 08 / 04 / 23	2-5	5-2	+ -
Young is laid up with right groin soreness, but it is assumed that he will partake in the Eastern Conference Play-in tournament versus the Heat.
Dejounte Murray (PG)	Prob Tues	Ankle - 08 / 04 / 23	2-5	5-2	+ -
Murray is bothered by left ankle soreness, but it is not expected to impact his status for the Eastern Conference Play-in tournament against the Heat.
Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG)	Out Wed	Rest - 05 / 04 / 23	4-5	6-2-1	+ -
Bogdanovic will not dress for Wednesday's game versus the Wizards as he will receive a day of rest.
Trae Young (PG)	Prob Wed	Illness - 03 / 04 / 23	4-6	7-2-1	+ -
Young sat out the previous game with an illness, but it is projected that he will face the Wizards in Wednesday's clash.
De'Andre Hunter (PF)	Prob Fri	Knee - 30 / 03 / 23	4-8	7-4-1	+ -
Hunter has missed the previous four games with a bone bruise and muscle strain in his left knee, but it is projected that he will take the court Friday against the 76ers.