The Wells Fargo Center was the place to be on Tuesday night. Fans from across the Pennsylvania area came to be a part of a historical night. It was on this day that NBA legend Wilt Chamberlin scored one hundred points in an NBA game. If that did not excite Sixers fans, the home debut of their newly acquired superstar would get the job done.
Doc Rivers and the Philadelphia 76ers are the team to beat in the Eastern Conference. After parting ways with Ben Simmons to acquire James Harden, Philadelphia has been on a tear. Wins over the Minnesota Timberwolves and the New York Knicks have given Harden and his new teammates enough momentum to make a run in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
The Sixers played four strong quarters of basketball in James Harden’s debut
Tuesday night’s win against the Knicks was a team effort. Julius Randle and R.J Barrett had their sights set on ruining Philadelphia’s special moment. At the end of the first quarter, the 76ers found themselves starring at a seven-point deficit.
Philadelphia’s defense played a huge part in the Sixers’ comeback efforts. Doc Rivers and his staff formulated a game plan that shut the Knicks offense down. As the Knicks struggled to put points on the board, Tyrese Maxey and Joe Embiid began to find their groove. Maxey’s clutch free-throw shooting and Embiid’s 3-pointers helped the Sixers outscore the Knicks by 17 points.
Protecting a twelve point lead was the focus for the Sixers in the fourth quarter. Contributions from Tobias Harris and Matisse Thybulle put an end to any comeback hopes the Knicks had. Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and James Harden combined for more than 70 points. When the final buzzer sounded, the fans in the Wells Fargo arena celebrated in style to the Sixers theme song.
The Sixers are getting hot
Consecutive wins against the New York Knicks have helped the Sixers remain a top-five team in the Eastern Conference. The Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, and Milwaukee Bucks could all be potential threats in the future. Twenty-one games remain in the regular season and the Sixers cannot afford to slip up.
The stars are aligned in Philadelphia, and the Sixers’ future is looking bright. The connection between James Harden and Joel Embiid has elevated Doc Rivers’ team in more ways than one. As teams try to stop Philadelphia’s dynamic duo, other players take advantage of the lack of attention. Developing Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris as reliable scoring options should be the focus for the hot Sixers squad. If the Sixers continue to play at this level, they may have the opportunity of winning it all.