Game 7s are something special.
The winner advances, while the losing team’s season comes to an end. It is truly “win or go home.”
By outlasting the Hawks 104-99 on Friday night in Atlanta, the 76ers get to host Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinal playoffs Sunday evening (8 on TNT). A spot in the conference finals, beginning Wednesday night (8:30), awaits against the winner of the Brooklyn Nets-Milwaukee Bucks series.
This will be the Sixers’ eighth Game 7 in the last 40 years. They’re 3-4 and have won the only two home Game 7s during that span (2001 victories over the Raptors and Bucks in the conference semifinals and finals). The other Game 7 win was in 1982 at Boston Garden, after the Sixers dropped Games 5 and 6 after being ahead 3-1.
The standouts in the three Philadelphia victories were Hall of Famer Allen Iverson in 2001 and “Boston Strangler” Andrew Toney in ’82.
Who will be the difference-maker Sunday? I can’t wait to find out.
“It’s going to be special because we’re going to be at home and have our fans there and that energy,” said Ben Simmons, who had 6 points on 2-for-6 shooting Friday. “It’s going to be great. I’m looking forward to it.”
Rotations tend to be shortened and starters log heavy minutes since so much is at stake, with adjustments especially important. One possibility would be using backup center Dwight Howard less in Game 7. Howard hasn’t been effective against the Hawks and his overly aggressive play could result in a costly flagrant foul.
The only Game 7 the current Sixers’ core of Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris and Simmons has been through was the heartbreaking 2019 second-round road loss to the Raptors, in which Kawhi Leonard hit the winning quadruple bouncer at the buzzer.
“I’m excited,” Embiid said. “Back then (two years ago), I believe that if we had home-court, it would’ve been easier to win. That’s why we worked so hard this season — to get that home-court advantage.”
By compiling the East’s best regular-season record (49-23), the Sixers secured home-court advantage through the conference playoffs.
It looked like the series might not get to a Game 7 when Trae Young and the Hawks rallied from a 26-point deficit to steal Game 5 at the Wells Fargo Center. By winning two of the three games in South Philadelphia, Atlanta had a 3-2 lead, only for the Sixers to bounce back from that epic collapse and take Game 6 at State Farm Arena.
Rookie guard Tyrese Maxey gave the Sixers a gigantic lift Friday. After scoring 13 points in 32 minutes during the first five games against Atlanta, Maxey had 16 points in 29 minutes while also spending time defending Hawks star Young (34 points, 11 assists).
“We showed him a bunch of film and told him this morning he was going to be the first guy off the bench,” Rivers said. “Tyrese is ready. I thought, other than Ben, Tyrese did the best job on Trae because of his speed.”
While the plan was for Maxey to finally get regular minutes, his role increased because of Simmons’ foul trouble, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Maxey played four more minutes than Simmons, scored 10 more points and had a plus-minus of +12 to Simmons’ -7.
Here’s hoping Maxey stays in the rotation, primarily for his ability to create his own shot on a Sixers team short on such players.
“Tonight was the first Game 6 of my career,” Maxey said. “You just got to have a short-term memory. We haven’t done anything yet. We have one goal and that’s to advance. Just ready for Game 7 and can’t wait to get back to Philly and take care of business.”
Seth Curry (24 points, 6-for-9 on 3-pointers) really helped the Sixers with a 14-point third quarter and Tobias Harris followed a disappointing 2-for-11, 4-point outing Wednesday with 24 points. Embiid added 22 points despite shooting 9 of 24, along with 13 rebounds.
Afterward, Rivers said to Embiid, “I told you we would win, but we’re not done.”
Because they did, Embiid, Simmons, Harris, Maxey and others get to experience the first home Game 7 of their NBA careers.
“We just got to be tougher than them and move the ball,” Embiid said. “I’m definitely going to be better. There is no chance I’ll play worse than I did tonight shooting the ball. And we’re going to be at home. It’s a perfect setup for us to win — we just got to keep the same mentality, (play) 48 minutes, move the ball, get the ball to the right people and we’re going to be fine.”
If so, the Sixers would move on to the conference finals for just the second time in 36 years. If not, they would have squandered a terrific opportunity.
Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes.com; @TomMoorePhilly
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