Hawks eliminate No. 1 seed 76ers in Game 7 to advance to ECF

Published June 21, 2021 10:44am

Jun 20, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Kevin Huerter (3) controls the ball against Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons (25) and guard Seth Curry (31) during the second quarter of game seven of the second round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center. Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

The Atlanta Hawks eliminated the No. 1-seeded Phildelphia 76ers, 103-96, in Game 7 to advance to the NBA Eastern Conference Finals on Sunday (Monday in Manila).

Kevin Huerter scored 27 points on 10-for-18 shooting in a huge Game 7 performance for the Hawks.

Trae Young added 21 points and 10 assists while John Collins scored 14 points and grabbed 16 big rebounds in the win. Danilo Gallinari added 17 points off the bench, including several in the final minute of the game.

They will play the Milwaukee Bucks, who knocked out the Brooklyn Nets in the other second round pairing in the East.

Huerter knocked down three free throws in the final minute to give the Hawks a 96-92 lead, while Gallinari made a crucial steal that he converted into another Atlanta basket, 98-92, with 41.8 seconds remaining.

Gallinari and Young made some more free throws down the stretch to keep the 76ers at bay.

Joel Embiid posted 31 points and 11 rebounds for the Sixers while Tobias Harris added 24 and 14.

—JMB, GMA News

Tags: Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, nba