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Hawks rally from 26 points down, stun 76ers in Game 5

Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks pulled off a playoff comeback for the ages against the Philadelphia 76ers to move within a victory of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Young was fouled on a 3-pointer and hit all three free throws with 1:26 left to cap a 26-point comeback and send Atlanta on its way to a 109-106 victory over the 76ers on Wednesday night in Game 5.

The Hawks won in Philadelphia for second time in the series and can advance to the conference final for the first time since 2015 with a victory Friday night in Atlanta.

Atlanta Hawks' Trae Young, left, and Bogdan Bogdanovic embrace after the Hawks won Game 5 in a second-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers, Wednesday, June 16, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP PhotoMatt Slocum)

Young scored 39 points and added to a postseason where he has become a breakout star.

“We keep fighting no matter what the score is. I’m proud of this team,” Young said. "We have confidence in each other. We all love each other’s company and it shows on the court. We never stop believing until the final buzzer goes off.”

Joel Embiid scored 17 points in the first quarter and had the Sixers on their way toward a romp with a 26-point lead in the first half. They still led 87-69 at the end of the third before they collapsed.

Philadelphia 76ers' players walk to the bench during a timeout during the second half of Game 5 in a second-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks, Wednesday, June 16, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP PhotoMatt Slocum)

Lou Williams, Danilo Gallinari and Young opened the fourth on a huge run against the Sixers’ second unit and kept attacking once 76ers coach Doc Rivers was forced to put the starters in and save the lead.

Gallinari hit a 3 that made it 87-76 and Embiid sprang from his cool down seat behind the basket and ran to the scorer’s table to check back in the game. He instantly scored and pushed the lead back to 13.

Didn’t matter.

Atlanta Hawks' Trae Young, right, is fouled by Philadelphia 76ers' Matisse Thybulle during the second half of Game 5 in a second-round NBA basketball playoff series, Wednesday, June 16, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP PhotoMatt Slocum)

The big shots kept coming for the Hawks -- Williams buried a 3 that made it an 11-point game — and Young kept hitting his floaters and his fouls shots.

Ben Simmons, along with Embiid the cornerstone for the Sixers, missed free throw after free throw much as he has for most of the postseason that sped up Atlanta’s comeback.

Young’s floater brought them within two and then he leaned into a 3-pointer and was fouled by Matisse Thybulle. Young, taunted all series by Sixers fans, calmly stepped to the line and buried all three shots. And so it was, 105-104 Hawks.

Atlanta Hawks' Clint Capela, left, dunks the ball past Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid during the second half of Game 5 in a second-round NBA basketball playoff series, Wednesday, June 16, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP PhotoMatt Slocum)

Patriots owner Robert Kraft sat courtside and saw yet another big collapse — only this one against Atlanta.

The Hawks led by 26 points in a Game 1 victory and won Game 4 at home on Monday.

Atlanta fans can roll off a lengthy list of infamous collapses in its collective sports history.

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid reacts after making a basket during the second half of Game 5 in a second-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks, Wednesday, June 16, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP PhotoMatt Slocum)

Here was a comeback to remember.

Gallinari scored 16 points, Williams had 15 points and John Collins had 19 points and 11 rebounds

Embiid scored 39 points and Seth Curry had 36. Simmons was 4 for 14 from the free throw line and even Embiid missed two big ones down the stretch. Simmons missed two with the Sixers up 104-96 and the Hawks came right down and scored.

Atlanta Hawks' Bogdan Bogdanovic, center, goes up for a shot between Philadelphia 76ers' Tobias Harris, left, and Seth Curry during the second half of Game 5 in a second-round NBA basketball playoff series, Wednesday, June 16, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP PhotoMatt Slocum)

Embiid shook off an 0-for-12 finish in the second half of a Game 4 loss with an 8-for-8 start that helped the Sixers grab a 26-point lead in front of a raucous home crowd.

Embiid is basically playing on one good leg as he plays through torn cartilage in his right knee. The injury got the best of him in Game 4. He couldn’t get any lift in his shots — notable in a blown layup late that should have won the game — and his 0-fer in the second half left Philly wondering how hard he could go in Game 5.

TIP-INS

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid reacts after making a three-pointer during the second half of Game 5 in a second-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks, Wednesday, June 16, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP PhotoMatt Slocum)

Hawks: Made 22 of 28 free throws.

76ers: Julius Erving sat courtside. ... Danny Green (calf strain) wore a sleeve on his right leg and will remain sidelined for the rest of the series. ... Embiid was the first player in this postseason with a 20-10 first half.

INJURIES

Atlanta Hawks' Trae Young, right, and Philadelphia 76ers' Furkan Korkmaz chase down a loose ball during the second half of Game 5 in a second-round NBA basketball playoff series, Wednesday, June 16, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP PhotoMatt Slocum)

Rivers joked “I’m injury free” but didn’t necessarily agree with LeBron James’ critique that NBA stars in the playoffs are getting injured in part because of the condensed seasons.

“The last couple of years have been difficult, but we’re getting through it,” Rivers said. “It says a lot about the players and the league that we can get through this.”

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

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, right, makes a point to Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela during the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball Eastern Conference semifinal Wednesday, June 16, 2021, in Philadelphia. (Curtis ComptonAtlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid fires up the fans after going face to face with Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela in Game 5 of an NBA basketball Eastern Conference semifinal Wednesday, June 16, 2021, in Philadelphia. (Curtis ComptonAtlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)