MINNEAPOLIS — James Harden took Anthony Edwards off the dribble and got to the basket, floating the ball high into the air before it bounced into the rim for the and-one.
And with that, the 76ers’ much-anticipated Harden era was underway. Their marquee midseason acquisition flirted with a triple-double in his debut with his new team, totaling 27 points, 12 assists, and eight rebounds to help the Sixers cruise to a 133-102 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves Friday night at the Target Center.
Coach Doc Rivers said before the game that he was eager to begin this part of the process following the blockbuster trade that brought Harden and Paul Millsap to the Sixers in exchange for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, and two first-round draft picks. And Harden, a perennial All-Star and former MVP, immediately flashed several elements of his lethal offensive skill set.
