For quite a while, the Sixers looked on Monday like they might string together consecutive wins for the first time since winning four straight on the road from Dec. 29-Jan. 4, as they were the more impressive team on the way to a 10-point halftime lead.
Thaddeus Young made five three-pointers while scoring 23 points and the Sixers made 11 treys overall, but they couldn’t slow the Hawks late in the third and fourth quarters as former Sixer Lou Williams got hot off the bench down the stretch to help Atlanta snap a six-game losing streak with a 103-95 win.
The Sixers had no answer for Atlanta All-Star power forward Paul Millsap, who had 28 points and 17 rebounds. Williams scored eight of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, as the Hawks broke a pair of ties.
James Anderson scored 19 points. Rookie Michael Carter-Williams had 16 points, nine rebounds and nine assists but also committed three turnovers in a game in which turnovers played a big part in the Hawks’ ability to rally.
Turning point
The third quarter was a mess for the Sixers, who carried play in the first half on the way to a 10-point lead. The game turned quickly in favor of the Hawks, as Kyle Korver and Millsap sank three-pointers on Atlanta’s first two possessions of the second half to pull the Hawks within 53-49.
By the time the period ended, the Sixers trailed 75-73 as their shooting cooled a little (7 for 17 compared with 21 for 41, 51.2 percent in the first half) and the Hawks warmed up.
NBA
The Hawks bullied their way to a 12-4 rebounding edge in the period, and outscored the Sixers 32-20 in the period on 11 for 17 shooting (64.7 percent).
Atlanta closed the period on a 13-2 run. In the final 4:35 of the period, the Sixers had two turnovers and missed their final six shots.
Remember me?
The Sixers took a 92-89 lead with 3:08 left in the game when Young bombed another trey, but the Hawks came right back to tie it as point guard Jeff Teague completed a three-point play after Young fouled him on a layup.
The Hawks charged ahead as Williams scored eight straight points, including three-pointers on back-to-back possessions, and the Sixers never again led nor tied the game.
Jump start
The Sixers picked up Monday where they left off Saturday in a 123-98 win over Detroit. Young made three of his five three-pointers in the first period, as the Sixers took a 31-18 lead after the first period.
After making 12 of 21 treys against the Pistons, the NBA’s worst three-point shooting team made 5 of 15 in the first half while holding one of the NBA’s top long-distance shooting teams to 2 for 15. Atlanta missed its first 10 trey tries only to finish 7 for 31 after going 5 for 16 thereafter.
Hit the glass
The Sixers were out-rebounded 49-40 and more importantly grabbed just six offensive rebounds (to Atlanta’s 13). Millsap had five offensive rebounds himself, and the Sixers’ starters combined for three -- two by Henry Sims and one by Carter-Williams.
What’s next?
The Sixers return home to play the Bobcats Wednesday, and then will play at Boston on Friday.