The Sixers blew a golden opportunity against their second-round match-up Atlanta Hawks, 103-100. As their head coach Doc Rivers pointed out, the Philadelphia 76ers had a big chance to go up 3-1 but did not show up in the second half.

Solid Home-Win for the Hawks

After the Atlanta Hawks smelled blood in the water, the Trae Young-led squad attacked the basket and crashed the boards to put the series to even, 2-2 before the series shifts back to Philly for Game 5.

The Atlanta Hawks rallied from a 13-point deficit in the second half after they crashed the boards, suffocating the Sixers in the paint. In the second alone, the Hawks managed to grab six offensive rebounds led by their forward, John Collins, who got three resets by himself.

Aside from their weak presence in the paint, the Sixers only registered seven assists in the second half, and Rivers did not like how his players played in the final two quarters.

According to Sixers Wire via USA Today, Rivers emphasized that they missed a lot of opportunities. He also mentioned that he cannot wait to watch their lapses on the film because he wants his squad to know that they blew a golden opportunity in Game 4.

'Everybody Wanted to be a Hero'- Rivers

Moreover, Rivers also stated that they stopped passing the ball and they thought that they started the game the right way. The Sixers head coach also said that from playing good ball movement, they went back to hero basketball.

Rivers stated that everybody wanted to be the hero instead of trusting the team. Rivers also mentioned that if the team plays that kind of game, they lose most of the time especially if the other team outworks the hero basketball.

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Meanwhile, the Sixers did not only have seven assists in the second half, they also had seven turnovers and it hurt their chances to look for some open looks and get some momentum to close the game on the road with a commanding 3-1 lead in the series.

Furthermore, Rivers also gave Hawks the credit for knocking them around the floor. He also said that Collins was the toughest man on the floor all night. Rivers said that every player in the Hawks team played well but it was Collins who ignited the team from Atlanta, Yahoo Sports reported.

The Atlanta Hawks showed that they want it more in Game 4. The Hawks outworked Philadelphia on the glass and bothered the whole Sixers squad defensively. Trae Young and the rest of the Hawks squad fed off each other's energy, and they were able to come away with an important win at home.

On the other hand, the Sixers forward who led Philly with 20 points, Tobias Harris, shared that they definitely got outworked out there. Harris also mentioned that the Hawks got 50/50 balls, offensive boards until the last seconds. The Sixers' forwards credited the Hawks for imposing an excellent defense in the second half.

The Sixers built up an 18-point lead in the middle of the game but when the Hawks countered them, the Sixers could not raise their arms to swing back.

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WATCH: Philadelphia 76ers vs Atlanta Hawks Full GAME 4 Highlights | 2021 NBA Playoffs -from MLG Highlights