[ad_1]
PHILADELPHIA — James Harden didn’t score 100 points, but he did score enough to repel the pesky, upset-minded Knicks on Wednesday at festive Wells Fargo Center.
The Knicks led by 16 points in the first half and were looking to spoil the Sixers’ grand old party that welcomed Harden to Philly for his first home game.
It felt like a playoff atmosphere as Harden went for 26 points, nine assists and nine rebounds as the skidding Knicks blew another double-digit lead in the 123-108 defeat.
This was also a night to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point milestone when he crushed the Knicks in nearby Hershey, Pa., as a Philadelphia Warrior.
The NBA purposely scheduled this matchup to coincide with the anniversary. It was branded as “Wilt Night’’ and it was the “Knicks Night” only for the first half.
As they did 60 years ago, the Knicks lost to Philly, this time despite Julius Randle (24) and RJ Barrett (30 and seven assists) combining for 52 points. However, Randle scored just 12 points in the final three periods after a 12-point first quarter.
Tom Thibodeau’s club has dropped six straight and are 3-16 in their past 19 contests. Their record dropped to 25-37 as they played their first of seven straight road contests. With 20 games left, the Knicks’ season already feels over.
“The Beard’’ roared out of the tunnel to a standing ovation during pregame intros, then the Sixers’ fans cheered Harden every time the former Net touched the ball in the opening minutes. In the final minute, he waved on the crowd to cheer more as they upped the lead to 16 points and the loudspeaker let out a loud “Bing Bong’’ sound to taunt the Knicks and their failing mantra.
Harden had plenty of help from his new Philly friends as center Joel Embiid (27 points), emerging former Kentucky guard Tyrese Maxey (25 points) and Long Island’s Tobias Harris (14 points) were too much for the Knicks’ underwhelming roster lacking a point guard.
The Knicks gained a 62-55 halftime lead before they took their foot off the gas in another lousy third quarter that has been their 2021-22 Achilles’ heel.
The Sixers outgunned the Knicks 38-19 in the third quarter as they didn’t defend the 3-point line and a lack of ball movement doomed them offensively. The Sixers finished 17 of 36 from 3-point range.
It was a real stinker for shooting guard Evan Fournier, who can’t sustain anything this season. After scoring 24 against Philly on Sunday, he mounted just 3 points (1 of 8, 0-for-5 from 3) and was benched for the fourth quarter.
[ad_2]