Multiple Sixers impressed by Shake Milton’s big performance vs. Hawks

The Philadelphia 76ers were in need of a spark. The Atlanta Hawks had a lot of momentum led by their hot shooting in the second half and Philadelphia needed somebody to come off their bench and give them something.

The Sixers bench unit was held scoreless for almost three quarters on Tuesday before coach Doc Rivers made an adjustment and he threw in Shake Milton with 2:46 left in the third quarter to give them that spark. The Sixers trailed 80-79 at that point and Milton immediately drilled a triple to give Philadelphia the lead for good with 2:19 left.

It was the first points off the bench all game and the Sixers were able to eventually come away with a 118-102 win over the Hawks.

“I thought the second unit was struggling,” said Rivers. “We had zero points at halftime from our second unit. I talked to Shake today I said ‘this is a long run, man, if we do this right, and everyone’s gonna get a shot, and stay ready’.”

It was hardly a choice that was seen coming. Milton had been out of the rotation a bit and seemingly replaced by rookie Tyrese Maxey. However, Milton did not blink at the moment and he poured in 14 points across the third and the fourth.

“For some reason, I felt like he was gonna be needed,” said Joel Embiid. “Before the game, I told him to get ready. I love all these guys. He’s one of them and I believe in all of them. I want to win it all and I’m gonna need them to do so. I’m extremely happy for him, but the series is only 1-1. There’s nothing to really be happy about. You just gotta try to go over there and win both and take one at a time.”

The Sixers probably don’t win this game without Milton’s contributions in the second half. The starters were carrying the entire scoring load as the bench continues to be up and down and they looked hopeless out there. It just goes to show that in the playoffs, anybody can step up and contribute in a big way.

“He was huge for us,” said Tobias Harris. “I’m extremely happy for him. I think it really shows what the playoffs are about. Every game is important so you never know who’s gonna be able to step up, but when you have great efforts from guys who step up and are out there making plays like he was making, it just further pushes us along.”

For Milton, this can now give him a jump start a bit and continue to push in the right direction after having a miserable start in the playoffs.

“Obviously, he’s been in and out of the rotation in the playoffs,” Harris added. “He’s struggling a little bit at times, but he’s steadily in the gym and waiting for that moment and opportunity and he came in and took advantage of it. We needed more than ever too. That was great to see.”

To Harris’ point, Rivers added that the third-year guard out of SMU put in extra work on Monday night before the game.

“Shake came back last night playing 1-on-1 at 10 o’clock at night,” he explained. “He shot extra, he prepared himself, and he believed that he would get another shot and he got it. He gave us a huge lift so I’m very happy for him just personally.”

This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!