Sixers Bell Ringer: Hawks sweep season series with Sixers

A career night from Marcus Bagley was not enough as the Sixers fell at home to the Hawks but clinched the fifth-best lottery odds.

Sixers Bell Ringer Season Standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 16
Quentin Grimes – 12
Joel Embiid – 8
Jared McCain – 8
Paul George – 7
Justin Edwards – 6
Kelly Oubre Jr – 5
Adem Bona – 4
Guerschon Yabusele – 4
Ricky Council IV – 2
KJ Martin – 2
Jeff Dowtin Jr – 2
Jared Butler – 1
Andre Drummond – 1
Lonnie Walker – 1
No One – 1

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With just two games remaining in the 2024-2025 NBA regular season, the Sixers welcomed Eastern Conference foe the Atlanta Hawks to the Wells Fargo Center. The Hawks won both of the first two meetings between the teams this year and scored 132 points in both matchups.

Atlanta sat just one game ahead of the Chicago Bulls in the eighth seed in the NBA playoff race. By being the eight seed the Hawks would avoid a single-game elimination first round Play-in game as the ninth seed in the NBA Play-in tournament. Plenty to play for in this one for Atlanta — not as much for the Sixers who currently sit at the fifth spot in the NBA Draft lottery and with a loss would clinch that spot ahead of next month’s lottery.

Now for the game.

Not much separated the two teams throughout the first quarter, with neither team leading by more than four points. The Hawks ended the quarter with a 29-26 lead, led by seven first quarter points from Trae Young who got to the line four times. As we Sixers fans know, Young seems to find a home at the line when he plays at the Wells Fargo Center. The Sixers were led in scoring early by Jared Butler who finished the period with eight points of his own.

The Sixers put together one of their best quarters of basketball as of late in the second quarter. The Sixers put in 40 points in the period behind a balanced attack from their starting lineup. Marcus Bagley had the best half of his young NBA career putting in 14 first half points, knocking down four from beyond the arc. Adem Bona, Butler and Lonnie Walker put in 14 points, 13 points, and 12 points respectively. The Sixers went to the break with a 66-60 advantage.

The Sixers followed up the great second quarter with a poor third. They only mustered up 19 points in the third quarter as the Hawks retook control in the third to take a 91-85 lead entering the fourth. The Sixers failed to knockdown a three-point basket in the frame. The Hawks however hit four threes as that was the whole difference in the quarter.

The Hawks carried the momentum from the third into the fourth quarter and extended their lead for a 124-110 victory.

Now for the Bell Ringer.

Marcus Bagley: 20 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 8-of-14 from the field, 4-of-8 from three

Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

Bagley had a career game tonight for the Sixers. He knocked down four first half triples. Shooting has been the most intriguing area of Bagley’s game at his size dating back to his days as a high school prospect and early in his college career at Arizona State. Bagley also pulled down his first career double-double. Bagley showed some ability as a connector making the extra pass and using his shooting gravity to open up opportunities for his teammates and quickly hit the simple reads. He’s raising his stock on the NBA radar in hopes of landing an NBA contract next season.

Jared Butler: 25 points, 7 assists, 9-of-18 from the field, four made threes

Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

Butler once again showed himself well leading the charge for the Sixers offensively. He displays floor generalship that has always been a huge positive in his game. Butler continues to bomb away from three and be a high-volume shooter for the Sixers, especially with the absence tonight of Quentin Grimes.

Adem Bona: 18 points, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 steals, 8-for-9 from the field

Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

Bona was his typical hyperactive and athletic self. Bona’s greatest strength and attribute continues to be his event creation defensively as he racks up deflections, blocks, and steals just as he did in his college days in route to being a two-time Pac 12 Defensive Player of the Year. Bona is making a string case to be a future staple of the Sixers’ rotation as an energy and defensive-centric big. Bona put in another efficient performance offensively playing his role as a play finishing big.