This was a rather energetic and entertaining, though two of the biggest stars in this game – Dennis Schroöder for the Hawks and the gargantuan presence of Joel Embiid for the Sixers – were both inactive with injuries.
News came down at the start of this game that Schröd would miss the rest of the season with a grade 2 ankle sprain and Embiid collided with Markelle Fultz and fractured an orbital bone in his face in the 76ers’ prior game.
For the Sixers, near-certain Rookie of the Year Ben Simmons was able to pick up the slack left by JoJo.