LOS ANGELES, United States —
James Harden did not
disappoint in his highly anticipated debut with the Philadelphia 76ers, scoring
27 points and handing out 12 assists in the Sixers' 133-102 rout of the NBA's
Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday
اضافة اعلان
Harden, the league's 2018 Most Valuable Player, was playing
his first game with his new team since arriving in Philadelphia from the
Brooklyn Nets in a blockbuster trade for Ben Simmons at the trade deadline on
February 10.
Recently sidelined by a hamstring injury, Harden made up for
lost time with an impressive offensive display that included a trademark
step-back three-pointer late in the first half on which he drew a foul from
Minnesota's Jarred Vanderbilt and converted the free throw to complete the
four-point play.
He converted another four-point play in the fourth quarter
to push the Sixers' lead to 24 points, getting a hug from new teammate
Joel Embiid.
Even before the contest, Embiid had plenty of good things to
say about Philadelphia's prized acquisition.
"He's a great person, a great personality," Embiid
said. "Always smiling. Fun to be around. His presence – on the team, and
on the floor – has really changed us a lot since he got here."
Embiid was even happier after playing his first game
alongside Harden.
"He was making plays for all of us," Embiid said.
"That was probably as wide-open as I've been in my entire career. The
shot-making ability, shot creation, you should've seen my face .... We've never
had this, nothing close to this."
Harden, a three-time
NBA scoring champion, said he would be
happy to be cast in the role of playmaker alongside MVP candidate Embiid if
that is what will help the 76ers win.
"I am willing to do whatever," Harden said.
"We have one common goal. I have nothing to prove individually. As a unit,
I think we have something to prove."
Embiid led the 76ers with 34 points and 10 rebounds and
Tyrese Maxey added 28 points for Philadelphia, who are third in the East and
hoping Harden's arrival can help them challenge for the top spot now shared by
the
Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls.
The Heat kept pace with the Bulls with a 115-100 victory
over the Knicks in New York.
Tyler Herro scored 25 points and Jimmy Butler added 23 as
the Heat withstood a career-high 46 points from Knicks forward
RJ Barrett at
Madison Square Garden.
Kyle Lowry contributed 19 points for Miami, who had 16
points and 16 rebounds from Bam Adebayo.
Barrett, back after missing four games with a sprained left
ankle, made six three-pointers and pulled down nine rebounds.
But star forward
Julius Randle struggled again, connecting
on just two of 15 shots from the floor on the way to 11 points with eight
rebounds and eight assists.
The Knicks dropped their fourth straight, the defeat coming
after they announced that Derrick Rose's return from ankle surgery would be
delayed after he underwent a follow-up procedure on Friday.
Pelicans shock Suns
Elsewhere, the
Los Angeles Lakers let another victory slip
away late, falling to their LA rivals the Clippers 105-102.
The LeBron James-led Lakers, who have won just three of
their last 10 games, rallied from a 16-point deficit and trailed by one with
four seconds remaining when Carmelo Anthony missed a deep three-pointer.
James missed a potential game-tying three-pointer as time
expired, finishing with 21 points and 11 rebounds to see his streak of games
with at least 25 points end at 23.
In the surprise of the night,
CJ McCollum scored 32 points
to lead the New Orleans Pelicans to a 117-102 victory over the league-leading
Phoenix Suns.
Brandon Ingram added 28 points for New Orleans and Jonas
Valanciunas had 18 points and 17 rebounds as the Pelicans ended the Suns'
eight-game winning streak.
In Salt Lake City, Utah's Donovan Mitchell hit a career-high
seven three-pointers on the way to 33 points in the Jazz's 114-109 victory over
the Dallas Mavericks.
San Antonio guard Dejounte Murray, coming off his first NBA
All-Star Game appearance, produced a triple-double of 31 points, 13 rebounds
and 14 assists to help the Spurs hold off the Washington Wizards 157-153 in
double overtime.
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