MY ACCOUNT
Joel Embiid is feeling good about the new-look Philadelphia 76ers labelling his partnership with James Harden as “unstoppable” after Sunday’s 125-109 win over the New York Knicks.
In Harden’s second game for the 76ers since his trade from the Brooklyn Nets, the 2018 MVP recorded a triple-double with 29 points, 10 rebounds and 16 assists.
Embiid added a game-high 37 points with nine rebounds and four blocks, as the 76ers put on 125 or more points for the second straight game.
“Unstoppable,” Embiid said after the game. “What are you really going to do?
“He’s a great passer, and obviously I’ve got someone [next to me] that attracts a lot of attention to him, so you’ve got to make a decision. Do you stay on me, or do you stay on him?
“And if you want to guard both of us with the other guys, now you’ve got Matisse [Thybulle] diving to the rim or wide-open shooters that have got one job to do, and that’s make shots. That’s all we got to keep doing.
“Like I was saying in the locker room, I’m happy I don’t have to post up every single possession, so it’s great.”
The Knicks had no answer for the pair, with Embiid getting to the stripe 27 times, making 23 free-throws, while Harden made 10-of-10 from the free-throw line.
“That’s our job every single night, is to put pressure on that rim,” Harden said. “That creates opportunities for ourselves and our teammates.
“There’s a lot of opportunities Joel had with and-ones where he just didn’t convert, but that pressure night-in and night-out consistently is going to be tough for teams to cover.”
In another ominous sign for the 76ers, who improve to 37-23, Harden said he was feeling the best he has physically for a long time, having endured hamstring issues during his time with the Nets.
“I feel good. It’s my second game in damn near a month, but just my body feels great,” Harden said. “Feels great. I haven’t felt this way in a really, really long time.
“So just my pop, me getting to the rim, my extra step, feels really great. So just got to continue to work, continue to build my body and legs and keep pushing.”
