Later, the cheers turned into groans when one foul after the other threatened to end the matinee.
Embiid did not care about how the partnership looked to viewers. It doesn’t matter how Harden and Embiid look to each other.
He said, “Unstoppable.”
Embiid had 37 points and made a season-high 23 free throws. Harden had 29 points, 16 assists, and 10 rebounds. The 76ers won their second straight game with the new duo, beating the New York Knicks 125 to 109 on Sunday.
The 76ers were able to make 39 free throws, the most this season in the NBA. They also used the line almost all of their efforts to win a tight game midway through the fourth quarter. Embiid made 23 of 27 free throws, and the NBA’s top scorer added nine rebounds.
It was the opening game of a home and home series. Harden’s first home game was Wednesday.
Harden stated that “Tonight felt as if we were in Philly.” “But that crowd, they’re going to be turned up in there and I’m ready.”
The 76ers won this one better after Harden’s impressive performance Friday against Minnesota, a win of 133 to102. In the fourth it was tied at 100, but Philadelphia won by scoring 10 of its next twelve at the line. Embiid had six free throws and Harden had four. The only basket for the 76ers during that stretch was when Harden fed Embiid at the fast break.
After Embiid had fouled out both of the opposing centers, and the Knicks were forced into small play, the 76ers placed Harden and Embiid on the pick-and-roll.
Doc Rivers, 76ers coach, said that “now you’re rolling big guy down the center and it’s really hard to come help and so that’s when he got rolling and getting all those fouls.”
Harden had five more steals, and was second in assists for the season.
RJ Barrett and Evan Fournier scored 24 points each for the Knicks. They have lost five straight games and nine of 10. Julius Randle scored 16 points, had 10 rebounds, and seven assists.
Embiid had 34 points, Harden had 27, and Harden had 12 assists and 27 points Friday. This was the All-Star guard’s first game since Paul Millsap, a 10-time All-Star, and Ben Simmons were traded to the 76ers for Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, and Ben Simmons.
Harden and Embiid were the team that scored Philadelphia’s first 11 point. Harden’s 3-pointer gave the Sixers a 38 to 35 lead after one.
Rivers saw all the fouls, and said to himself: “This is going to take a while.”
Together, the teams committed 50 fouls. Philadelphia was 39th out of 44, while New York was 22nd for 35.
Tom Thibodeau, Knicks coach, said that the team shot 40 points, which was a lot. “We shot a lot of free throws and they shot a lot.” “There was no flow to this game, which hurts you a lot.”
TIP-INS
Rivers stated that he was not concerned about Tobias Harris because the forward was only 2 for 9 in Minnesota’s win, while other Sixers had great nights. “He had great shots,” Rivers said. We’re in the wins business. We don’t want to make everyone happy.
Knicks: Thibodeau stated that he could not yet say if Derrick Rose will be able play next month. Rose underwent a procedure Friday to treat a skin infection that had developed on the right side of his ankle, which has kept him out of action for more than two months. Thibodeau stated that Rose should just let it go and be patient. … Rookie Jericho Sims was again in as the backup center for Mitchell Robinson. Both players were out of the game in the fourth. Veteran Nerlens Noel did not play because he has foot problems. Thibodeau stated that the Knicks would be rotating their centers.
DOC ON DRUMMOND
Rivers kept in touch, stating that he knew Drummond since high school. Many of the texts are sarcastic. One example is one Rivers sent after Drummond threw a behind-the back pass out of bounds. Drummond scored 17 points, had 12 rebounds, and provided five assists in Milwaukee’s victory. He will likely play a major role in Brooklyn.
Rivers stated, “He’s playing good man.” Rivers said, “I’m happy to him because last year, the last two years he’d struggled with it and he came here and I thought that we really got his motor running again.” You can see that he is still doing it. I am so happy for him.
