
PHILADELPHIA — Joel Embiid had 25 points, 19 rebounds and five blocked shots, and the Philadelphia 76ers won as they wait on James Harden, 100-87 over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night.
The 76ers gave a tease of Harden’s impending arrival with a flipbook-style video of his career that ended with a shot of him superimposed in a No. 1 jersey. Sixers fans gave the clip a roaring standing ovation.
They can’t wait for Harden to start a highlight reel in Philly following his trade from the Brooklyn Nets.
Harden, who has a hamstring injury, is expected to travel to the area this weekend and get evaluated by the team’s medical staff. He won’t play Saturday against Cleveland. The means the earliest Harden could play for the 76ers is at home Tuesday against Boston. The Sixers also play Thursday at NBA champion Milwaukee before the All-Star break.
Harden was acquired before Thursday’s trade deadline for 2016 No. 1 pick and three-time All-Star Ben Simmons. Simmons hasn’t played this season following an offseason trade demand. The Sixers got the second superstar they craved to pair with Embiid as they chase their first NBA championship since 1983.
HORNETS 141, PISTONS 119: LaMelo Ball had 31 points and 12 assists, Terry Rozier added a triple-double and Charlotte ended a six-game losing streak with a win at Detroit.
Detroit has lost seven in a row and 11 of 12.
Rozier finished with 25 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds. Miles Bridges had 25 points for the Hornets, who hadn’t won since beating the Los Angeles Lakers 117-114 on Jan. 28.
CAVALIERS 120, PACERS 113: Caris LeVert scored 22 points in his return to Indiana, and Cleveland’s defense strung together a strong fourth quarter to rally for a win at Indianapolis.
The Cavs have won five straight.
Jarrett Allen had 22 points and 14 rebounds for the Cavs, while Kevin Love scored his 7,000th point since joining Cleveland and finished with 14.
Tyrese Haliburton had 23 points and six assists in his Pacers debut.
SPURS 136, HAWKS 121: Dejounte Murray tied his career highs with 32 points and 15 assists to go with 10 rebounds for his 11th triple-double this season, Keldon Johnson scored 26 points and San Antonio cruised to a victory in Atlanta.
BULLS 134, TIMBERWOLVES 122: DeMar DeRozan scored 35 points, Nikola Vucevic added 26 and Chicago used a big fourth quarter to beat visiting Minnesota.
Tied with Milwaukee and Cleveland for second place in the Eastern Conference coming in, the Bulls went on a 15-2 run early in the fourth and outscored the Timberwolves 42-31 in the quarter.
DeRozan scored 16 in the final quarter on the way to his fifth straight game with more than 30 points.
Comments are no longer available on this story