Young's last-second jumper lifts Hawks past 76ers 129-127

Trae Young scored 32 points, including a last-second, go-ahead floater, to give the Atlanta Hawks a 129-127 win over Philadelphia on Saturday night, ending the 76ers' six-game winning streak.

With 3.5 seconds remaining, Young took the inbound pass from Kevin Huerter and dribbled past Jimmy Butler before sinking the short, soft jumper for the lead with 0.1 seconds remaining.

Butler missed a long attempt as the final buzzer sounded.

Atlanta Hawks forward John Collins, top, is fouled by Philadelphia 76ers guard JJ Redick, bottom, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 23, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP PhotoJohn Amis)

Taurean Prince had 23 points for Atlanta.

Joel Embiid had 27 points and 12 rebounds, and Butler had 25 points for Philadelphia.

The 76ers began the night with a solid hold on third place in the Eastern Conference, 3½ games ahead of Indiana and four games ahead of Boston. Philadelphia's six-game winning streak included a win over Boston on Wednesday night.

Atlanta Hawks guard Kent Bazemore, right, passes as Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 23, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP PhotoJohn Amis)

Huerter's steal from Embiid and jam gave Atlanta a 122-121 lead. Another turnover by Embiid, this time on a pass, set up an Atlanta fast-break opportunity which Young couldn't convert. Young fouled Butler, who made two free throws.

Young's long 3-pointer gave Atlanta a 125-123 lead, but Butler tied the game with a basket. Then, with 39.9 seconds remaining, Butler sank two free throws to give Philadelphia a 127-125 lead. Prince answered with a tying layup.

The Hawks were left with 3.5 seconds after the 76ers' 24-second violation, with Butler's miss waved off as coming too late.

Atlanta Hawks forward Vince Carter, left, shoots as Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris, right, defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 23, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP PhotoJohn Amis)

After snapping Utah's five-game winning streak by beating the Jazz 117-114 on Thursday night, the Hawks dropped another streaking playoff-bound team.

Atlanta led 74-68 at halftime and stretched the lead to 12 points, at 97-85, on Alex Len's three-point play. The 76ers closed the gap with 10 straight points and pulled even at 100-all on JJ Redick's 3-pointer to end the third period.

Embiid posted his 16th straight double-double and 54th overall this season. He had 37 points and a career-high 22 rebounds in the win over the Celtics on Wednesday night.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) tries to fend off the defense of Atlanta Hawks forward Taurean Prince (12) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 23, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP PhotoJohn Amis)

TIP-INS

76ers: C Boban Marjanovic, left unguarded in the corner, sank his first career 3-pointer in the first quarter. It was only the fourth career 3-point attempt in six seasons for the 7-foot-3 native of Serbia. ... The 76ers made 13 of 20 shots (60 percent) from the field in the first quarter. ... T.J. McConnell left the game with a bloody nose late in the third period. Coach Brett Brown was upset there was no foul called, even after a video review, on contact which caused the bloody nose. McConnell returned midway through the fourth.

Hawks: Young had 11 assists. ... Atlanta matched its season high for most points in a first half. The Hawks also scored 74 points in the first half against Miami in a 123-118 win on Nov. 3. The 74 points were the most allowed in a first half by the 76ers this season.

UP NEXT

76ers: At Orlando on Monday night.

Hawks: At New Orleans on Tuesday night.

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 31 points and 14 rebounds, Jalen Suggs added 24 points and the Orlando Magic handed Cleveland the worst playoff loss in franchise history, winning 121-83 on Thursday night to cut the Cavaliers’ lead to 2-1 in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Franz Wagner finished with 16 points and eight assists for the Magic, who led by 43 points in the fourth quarter on the way to the third-largest margin of victory in a playoff game. They earned their first playoff victory since 2019 and the first on their home floor since April 26, 2011.

They can even the series with a victory at home Sunday.

Jarrett Allen had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers, who shot 39% from the field and 23.5% from 3-point range. Caris LeVert added 15 points and Donovan Mitchell had 13 points and seven assists.

76ERS 125, KNICKS 114

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 50 points, making all four 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in a potential series-shifting third quarter to lead Philadelphia to a win over New York in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Embiid boldly stated “we’re going to win this series” after the 76ers dropped Game 2.

With one of the finest postseason efforts of his career, Embiid became the third player to ever score 50 points against the Knicks in the postseason and kept the hope of a Philadelphia series comeback very much alive.

The Knicks lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.

Embiid was 13 of 19 from the floor overall, made 19 of 21 free throws and hit five 3-pointers.

NUGGETS 112, LAKERS 105

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aaron Gordon had 29 points and 15 rebounds, Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, and Denver moved to the brink of the second round with a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their first-round series..

Jamal Murray scored 22 points as the defending NBA champion Nuggets won their 11th consecutive meeting with LeBron James and the Lakers in dominating style.

Michael Porter Jr. added 20 points for Denver, which took control in the third quarter and cruised through the final minutes to its fifth straight road win over Los Angeles, starting with its sweep of last season’s Western Conference finals.

Game 4 is Saturday night in Los Angeles. No NBA team has ever rallied from an 0-3 playoff deficit.

Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) makes a shot as he gets past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)