PHILADELPHIA — Doc Rivers feels the NBA trade deadline is a relief for some players.
“I think it’s always nice whether you want to go, stay, or whatever, you know where you are at,” the 76ers coach said before Friday’s game against the New York Knicks. “So I always thought that’s a relief for everybody.”
For Jalen McDaniels, this day marked his introduction to the Sixers after being acquired from the Charlotte Hornets in a four-team trade involving the Knicks and Portland Trail Blazers.
McDaniels didn’t play in the 119-108 victory at the Wells Fargo Center, but he wasn’t needed.
Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and James Harden took up the slack as the Sixers avenged Sunday’s loss to New York at Madison Square Garden with a 119-108 win Friday at the Wells Fargo Center.
Embiid had game highs of 35 points and 11 rebounds. Maxey added 27 points on 9-for-16 shooting, including making 5 of 8 3-pointers off the bench. Harden added 20 points, a game-high 12 assists and eight rebounds. The trio enabled the Sixers (35-19), who are third in the Eastern Conference, to snap a two-game skid.
All-Star Julius Randle had 30 points and 10 rebounds for the Knicks (30-27). Former Villanova star Jalen Brunson added 30 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds.
Unlike Sunday, the Sixers came to play in the fourth quarter, making 6 of 11 3-pointers and outscoring the Knicks, 27-15. In the last meeting, they made just 3 of 16 shots, including going 0 for 6 in the fourth quarter.
Afroman
Embiid took the braids out of his hair sometime between the morning shootaround before the game. As a result, he played with a huge Afro. And on this night, the Sixers version of ‘Afroman’ was his usual self. Embiid finished with 15 first-quarter points on 7-of-9 shooting.
However, the 7-foot-2, 280-pounder, who was named an All-Star game starter an injury replacement, cooled off in the second quarter. He scored four points from the foul line but didn’t attempt a shot for 6 minutes, 47 seconds. Embiid then scored on a layup 20 seconds into the third quarter.
Aside from showing a few bursts of energy, Embiid looked sluggish early in the second quarter. At one point, a fan yelled “Wake up, Joel.” He appeared to find his groove as the quarter progressed.
Embiid even tallied eight points, including the final six, during the Sixers’ 13-0 run that gave them an 87-86 lead at the 3:21 mark. He ended up scoring 13 points in the quarter on 6-for-7 shooting.
The assist leader
It’s time to drop unofficial from Harden’s league assist leader title.
He now has played in enough games to be listed among the league leaders. Harden is averaging 10.9 assists while Indiana Pacers All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton is second at 10.3.
A player had to compete in at least 70% of his team’s games to be officially eligible for an individual statistical title.
Harden missed 14 games earlier this season with a strained tendon in his right foot. Then he missed road games on Dec. 31 against Oklahoma City and Jan. 21 against Sacramento with right foot injury management.
This game marked his his 24th game with at least 10 points and 10 assists. That ranks fourth in the NBA. Harden also is the fourth Sixer ever with that many such games.
Brunson’s homecoming
Brunson is familiar with the rims at the Center. He played some of his home games here during his three seasons at Villanova. On this night, the point guard treated Sixers defenders like they were overmatched Big East opponents in the first quarter.
Brunson made his first five shots on a pair of layups, a jumper, and two 3-pointers. Then he assisted on Randle 3-pointers as the Knicks led, 18-7, with 7 minutes, 46 seconds in the first quarter.
The fifth-year veteran went on to finish with 20 first-quarter points on 8-for-10 shooting. And even that was a bit misleading. His last shot attempt of the quarter was a missed 29-foot 3-pointer at the buzzer after he rushed up the court in 2.2 seconds.
Up next
The Sixers will face their second New York team in as many days. They take on the Brooklyn Nets at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Barclays Center. This will be the third of four series meetings. The Sixers won the first two.
