Philadelphia @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 3, 2019 ) Philadelphia 122, Atlanta 130

Trae Young became one of the bright young stars of the NBA during his rookie season, and the Atlanta Hawks point guard is off to a sizzling start to his sophomore campaign entering Monday’s home contest against the Philadelphia 76ers. Young, who scored 38 points in an opening-night victory at Detroit, finished with 39 points, nine assists and seven rebounds in Saturday’s 103-99 home triumph over Orlando - scoring Atlanta’s final eight points of the game.

“That’s what makes big-time players what they are,” Young told reporters after becoming the first player in NBA history to total at least 38 points, nine assists and seven rebounds in each of his team’s first two games of a season. “They step up in big moments.” The challenge gets substantially tougher Monday against a 76ers squad that also is 2-0 on the season, winning 117-111 Saturday at Detroit despite center Joel Embiid missing the contest with a sprained right ankle. Forward Tobias Harris led the way in Embiid’s absence, scoring 16 of his game-high 29 points in the third quarter - including 10 in a row to help Philadelphia erase a 13-point deficit. “I had a lot of great looks because we would get a stop at one end, and we would get down the floor and create something off the run,” Harris told the media after finishing 10-for-15 from the field with seven rebounds.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia, FS Southeast (Atlanta)

ABOUT THE 76ERS (2-0): A pair of former Hawks helped fuel Philadelphia’s victory Saturday as center Al Horford scored 23 points with nine rebounds, and forward Mike Scott came off the bench to shoot 5-for-6 from 3-point range in scoring 17 points. After shooting 7-for-29 from 3-point range on opening night against Boston, the 76ers hit 13-of-34 attempts from long range against Detroit. Guard Ben Simmons recorded a career-best seven steals, finishing with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

ABOUT THE HAWKS (2-0): Young entered Sunday leading the NBA in scoring at 38.5 points per game, and through two contests is shooting 27-for-46 from the field, 11-for-20 from 3-point range and 12-for-16 from the free-throw line. After scoring just one point in his debut Thursday, rookie forward Cam Reddish finished with six points in 23 minutes against Orlando. Forward Jabari Parker impressed for the second straight game, scoring 10 points with four rebounds, an assist and a blocked shot in 18 minutes off the bench.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Atlanta F John Collins is eight points shy of 2,000 for his career.

2. Two nights after recording 62 rebounds against Boston, Philadelphia registered 30 assists and 14 steals against Detroit.

3. Hawks rookie F Bruno Fernando, who scored four points with five rebounds in nine minutes, left in the third quarter with a right ankle sprain.

PREDICTION: 76ers 110, Hawks 98