UNDATED (AP) — The Atlanta Hawks were a team that no one wanted to face in the NBA playoffs. They continue to back up that notion.
Trae Young scored 25 of his 35 points while the Hawks dominated the first half to take Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series, 128-124 at Philadelphia.
The Hawks made 14 of their first 18 shots from the floor, scored 17 straight points in the first half and led by 20 at intermission. The 76ers pulled within three with 1:01 left, but Bogdan Bogdanovic followed with a 3-pointer to seal it.
Bogdanovic and John Collins each scored 21 points for Atlanta.
Joel Embiid had 39 points for the 76ers after missing their previous playoff game with torn cartilage in his right knee.
Game 2 is Tuesday in Philadelphia.
Meanwhile, someone finally won a home game in the Clippers-Mavericks first-round series, and it came at the right time.
The Clippers have advanced to the Western Conference semifinals with a 126-115 win over the Mavericks in Game 7. It was the first series in NBA history in which the road team won the first six games.
Kawhi Leonard scored 28 points and Marcus Morris added 23 as the Clippers were able to do what the defending champion Lakers could not. Paul George added 22 points, 10 assists and six rebounds for the Clippers, whose backups outscored the Dallas reserves, 27-6.
Luka Doncic had 46 points, 14 assists and seven rebounds to lead the fifth-seeded Mavs, who have yet to win a playoff series since capturing the NBA championship in 2011.
The Jazz will take on the Clippers in the next round.
