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NEW YORK – Joel Embiid and James Harden have been greeted by loud roars from the loads of Philadelphia followers that packed Madison Sq. Backyard.
The cheers later turned to groans as one foul after one other threatened to make the matinee final deep into the afternoon.
Embiid didn’t care the way it seemed to viewers. All that issues is how his partnership with Harden seems to him.
“Unstoppable,” he mentioned.
Embiid scored 37 factors and made a profession and NBA season-high 23 free throws, Harden had 29 factors, 16 assists and 10 rebounds, and the 76ers made it two straight wins with their new duo by beating the New York Knicks 125-109 on Sunday.
The 76ers made 39 free throws, most within the NBA this season, and nearly all their work to interrupt open an in depth recreation halfway by means of the fourth quarter got here from the road. Embiid completed 23 of 27 on free throws and the NBA’s main scorer added 9 rebounds.
It was the opener of a home-and-home sequence, with the sport Wednesday to be Harden’s first in entrance of his residence followers.
“Tonight felt like we have been in Philly,” Harden mentioned. “However that crowd, it’s going to be turned (up) in there and I’m prepared for it.”
After a strong efficiency in a 133-102 win at Minnesota on Friday in Harden’s 76ers debut, this one grew to become a grind-it-out recreation that the 76ers dealt with higher. It was tied at 100 within the fourth, however Philadelphia pulled away by scoring 10 of its subsequent 12 on the line. Embiid made six free throws, Harden 4, and the one 76ers basket throughout that stretch got here when Harden fed Embiid on the quick break.
As soon as Embiid fouled out each opposing facilities and the Knicks have been compelled to play small, the 76ers put Harden and Embiid within the pick-and-roll.
“So now you’re rolling the massive man down the center and it’s actually tough to return assist and that’s once we bought him rolling and getting all these fouls,” 76ers coach Doc Rivers mentioned.
Harden added 5 steals and matched his season greatest in assists.
RJ Barrett and Evan Fournier every scored 24 factors for the Knicks, who’ve misplaced 5 straight and 9 of 10. Julius Randle had 16 factors, 10 rebounds and 7 assists.
Embiid scored 34 and Harden had 27 factors and 12 assists Friday within the All-Star guard’s first recreation for the reason that 76ers acquired the 10-time All-Star and Paul Millsap for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two future first-round picks in a Feb. 10 commerce.
Harden and Embiid mixed to attain Philadelphia’s first 11 factors. Harden made a 3-pointer that gave the Sixers a 38-35 lead after one.
However the tempo finally slowed down, with Rivers seeing all of the fouls and saying to himself: “This recreation’s going to be some time.”
The groups mixed to commit 50 fouls. Philadelphia completed 39 of 44 on the line and New York was 22 for 35.
“They shot 40-whatever it was, a ton of free throws, and we shot rather a lot,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau mentioned. “So there was no move to the sport, in order that hurts you some.”
EMBIID: MVP front-runner is more focused on earning his first NBA title
SIXERS: Harden era off and running after impressive debut vs. T’Wolves
PELICANS: Zion Williamson‘s future in New Orleans may very well be very a lot doubtful
TIP-INS
76ers: Rivers mentioned he wasn’t anxious about Tobias Harris after the ahead was simply 2 for 9 for six factors in opposition to Minnesota whereas so many different Sixers had massive nights. “He had nice pictures,” Rivers mentioned. “Hear, we’re within the wins enterprise. We’re not making an attempt to maintain everyone blissful, as a result of if that’s true then we’d be within the loss enterprise.” Harris was 3 for 9 Sunday.
Knicks: Thibodeau mentioned he couldn’t say but if Derrick Rose would have the ability to play subsequent month. Rose had a process Friday for a pores and skin an infection on his surgically repaired proper ankle that has sidelined him for 2 months. “You simply need to type of let him undergo it and be affected person with it,” Thibodeau mentioned. … Rookie Jericho Sims bought in once more because the backup middle to Mitchell Robinson, with each fouling out early within the fourth. Veteran Nerlens Noel didn’t play as he battles foot issues. Thibodeau mentioned the Knicks will probably be rotating their facilities.
DOC ON DRUMMOND
Rivers has saved in contact with Drummond, saying he has identified the middle since he was in highschool. A lot of the texts are sarcastic, resembling one he despatched after he noticed Drummond throw a behind-the-back cross out of bounds. Drummond had 17 factors, 12 rebounds and 5 assists within the Nets’ victory in Milwaukee and seems will play an enormous position in Brooklyn.
“He’s enjoying nicely, man,” Rivers mentioned. “I’m blissful for him as a result of final yr, final couple years he’d struggled and he got here to us and I believed we actually bought his motor going once more. Now you’re watching him, he’s nonetheless doing it, so actually blissful for him.”
UP NEXT
The groups opened a home-and-home sequence. They play at Philadelphia on Wednesday in what will probably be Harden’s first recreation in entrance of his residence followers.
This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: James Harden gets first triple-double with Philly as Sixers top Knicks
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