Fansided

NBA Twitter loses it over 76ers meltdown in Game 5 vs. Hawks

ByAlicia de Artola|
Hawks vs. 76ers. (Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports)
Hawks vs. 76ers. (Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports)

NBA Twitter was all over the Philadelphia 76ers meltdown against the Atlanta Hawks in Game 5 as they gave up a 26-point lead.

The NBA Playoffs can either make you or break you. It’s looking like the latter for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Philadelphia cruised through most of Game 5 with a sizable, 26-point lead over the Atlanta Hawks. They were well on their way to a 3-2 series lead. Then the unthinkable happened.

With a lopsided fourth quarter, Atlanta came storming back and pulled off an improbable victory.

The 76ers’ collapse against the Hawks was a sight to behold

NBA Twitter had a field day with it all.

Reminder, the 76ers had an 18-point lead in Game 3, which they blew to let Atlanta tie the series.

The size of the collapse on Wednesday was unbelievable, even without that context.

The Hawks outscored the 76ers 40-19 in the fourth quarter. They also scored the final 15 points before Seth Curry hit a pointless shot at the buzzer. They flipped the score from 94-104 to 109-104 in that 4:23 stretch.

Magic Johnson put it simply.

Philadelphia missed 15 free throws.

The game reminded people of what happened to the Bucks.

Fans in Atlanta were just happy to be on the other side of things this time.

Doc Rivers took a lot of the blame for a familiar story.

Joel Embiid, who missed two free throws at the end of the game, took his criticism as well.

Ben Simmons was also a target.

Whatever failings the 76ers showed, Trae Young only grew his legend.

The Hawks now enjoy a 3-2 series lead having landed some serious psychological blows to the 76ers in the last two games.

Now, Philly must regroup and win in Atlanta if they want to stay alive in the series. After giving up that kind of a lead, again, it’ll take quite the reboot to get back in it.