Yet on a broader level, this was a prescription for the Sixers after blowing a 26-point second-half lead on their home floor in Game 5 in the wake of squandering a 16-point lead in Game 4.
Sixers guard Seth Curry maintained his routine of watching film, checking out the other postseason series, and moving through his workouts.
Despite living in the paint for much of the half, the Sixers could hardly buy a trip to the stripe; and Trae Young got loose for 20 points.
Trae Young, who spent the first half north to south and tormenting the Sixers with his lob, found himself pushed out and toward the sidelines.
And Maxey provided some essential defense on Young and drained a 3-pointer during a dry spell for both teams in the fourth quarter.
Now the East’s best home team will host Game 7 on Sunday after six games that have featured both rugged defense and individual offensive outbursts.
It will be a good while before Simmons will join his fellow All-Stars at the position in feasting off jumpers coming off high screens, the Sixers would help themselves by finding some opportunities for him as a cutter or with some short pick-and-rolls closer to the hoop.
The Hawks have enjoyed their moments during the series, but will need the double-drag humming on Sunday if they want a series win — Collins and Capela slowing Simmons, then popping and diving respectively.
Using Embiid both down low and in dribble handoffs and as a screener for Curry will be a nice decongestant — Curry and Embiid as a perimeter combo produced some nice offense for the Sixers.
A couple of youthful indiscretions are one thing, but a team with little experience deep in the postseason can’t afford to get beat at the margins if they aspire to win a Game 7 on the road.
Atlanta is already thin at the wings, with Cam Reddish’s extended absence, the loss of DeAndre Hunter, and now potentially Bogdanovic, who left Game 6 with soreness in his right knee.
That’s who he is.” Harris is vital to the Sixers, in large part because their primary wings, while good distance shooters, aren’t classic creators, nor can Simmons do much in that capacity for himself in the backcourt.
The Sixers are several years into their Process, while the Hawks fast-tracked theirs.