Sixers

The Sixers powered through a slow start and leaned on their stars again Sunday. With a 119-112 Christmas victory at Madison Square Garden, they've now won ...

He signed a two-year, $68.8 million contract with Philadelphia in July. The Sixers entered Christmas on a seven-game winning streak, but, according to ESPN, he ...

[Ben Simmons](/nba/players/2202822/ben-simmons/), [Seth Curry](/nba/players/2089523/seth-curry/), [Andre Drummond](/nba/players/1992788/andre-drummond/) and two first-round picks to the Nets. Smith and [Iman Shumpert](/nba/players/1646428/iman-shumpert/). He would lead the league in assists if he had played enough games to be eligible. 1 picks in the draft -- for [Kevin Love](/nba/players/1622545/kevin-love/). [Andrew Wiggins](/nba/players/2135571/andrew-wiggins/) -- at the time, the last two No. According to ESPN, Harden could be months away from leaving a team that is all-in on winning a championship to rejoin the team that he left less than two years ago, a team that now has a 9-23 record, the worst in the West, and is in the league's bottom four on both offense and defense. [Jalen Green](/nba/players/26602347/jalen-green/), 21-year-old [Jabari Smith](/nba/players/26776259/jabari-smith/) Jr. Tucker](/nba/players/1113186/p-j-tucker/) and Danuel House, and, in October, [the league took away its 2023 and 2024 second-round picks](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-docks-76ers-two-future-second-round-picks-for-violating-leagues-tampering-rules-in-offseason/) after an investigation revealed that it had engaged in discussions with Tucker and House before it was permitted to do so. [Philadelphia 76ers](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/PHI/philadelphia-76ers/) something pretty strange. For all of Harden's history and connection with Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey and CEO Tad Brown, his working relationships with Embiid and coach Doc Rivers resemble something closer to a work in progress. "We're playing very well and I don't know where that report came from, but I'm excited to be here and we're playing very well. After what would become relatively brief stops in Brooklyn and Philadelphia, a move back to a rebuilding Rockets franchise would effectively represent comfort and familiarity over an immediate championship pursuit.

The Sixers powered through a slow start and leaned on their stars again Sunday. With a 119-112 Christmas victory at Madison Square Garden, they've now won ...

Harden then assisted a Georges Niang three to put the Sixers up 101-98. [the game the other night (against the Clippers)](https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/sixers/sixers-vs-clippers-joel-embiid-kawhi-leonard-james-harden-sixers-observations), but better tonight. The 24-year-old started 5 for 5 from the floor. “I just think the game dictates it," Rivers said. With Brunson searching for a shot at the end of the half, Milton picked up the Sixers’ second forced turnover before flinging the ball from the Knicks’ half-court logo. As Embiid watched from the bench late in the third and early in the fourth period, Harden suddenly appeared unstoppable from long distance. Even when the team is floundering, free throws from Harden and Embiid are so often a realistic path back into the game for the Sixers. I thought the first quarter, they had all the energy. Embiid got the third on Robinson with 4:04 left in the second and was especially determined to battle for post position and create contact against Jericho Sims. On Sunday, the Knicks had zero turnovers in the first quarter. “I started off the game soft," he said. “You could say it was a little early, but I started off the game soft.

The 76ers have strangely arrived to this point with an average offense and elite defense. They showed the exact opposite on Christmas.

But on Christmas in New York, the Sixers played as a team and showed offensively how prolific they can be. It’s much easier to defend when the other team needs to take the ball out of the net. Plus, the Sixers subbed Niang in for Tucker in the fourth quarter, something they have done frequently of late. The Sixers are playing zone on 6.5 percent of their defensive possessions, the sixth-most in the league, according to Synergy Sports. That is the other confusing end of the spectrum with this Sixers season to date. Harden saved one of his best offensive games of the season for the big stage, finishing with 29 points, 13 assists and just one turnover. He was sitting on 31 points, a performance that had the makings of another monster night for the [NBA](https://theathletic.com/nba/)’s scoring leader. And it’s that specific sequence, with an overwhelming level of offensive talent choosing from a menu of appealing options, that makes you wonder how the Sixers arrived here at this point, just 2.5 games behind the best record in the NBA. After relying on the free-throw line to keep him afloat, a tool he can use to raise his floor during down performances, Embiid found a rhythm once he returned from the locker room after halftime. Once the ball dropped through the net, Embiid walked to the corner to scream at the New York crowd. Specifically, New York’s [Julius Randle](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/julius-randle-ZOBqK4RMFKL7YI2Q/) was having trouble defensively whenever Niang set a screen for [James Harden](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/james-harden-xj359Qh34ugWFbVp/). Then, after Melton drove and kicked the ball back to Niang, the Sixers’ leading 3-point shooter on the season was wide open.

NEW YORK–Before the Philadelphia 76ers took on the New York Knicks on Christmas Day, a Woj bomb dropped from ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski that James Harden is ...

Despite Joel Embiid's early struggles and talk of James Harden considering a return to the Houston Rockets, the Sixers answered the bell and owned the ...

The Sixers also struggled on the defensive end. Then his ninth assist of the game came on a three-pointer by Niang to give the Sixers a 101-98 lead 33 seconds later. One of his attempts was a post-up shot that went over the rim. And the Knicks took full advantage, building a commanding 30-16 cushion after Immanuel Quickley’s layup with 3 minutes, 33 seconds left in the quarter. At one point, Embiid accounted for 66.7% of the Sixers points in the quarter. Niang added another three to put the Sixers up 108-100 with 6:52 left. Embiid scored seven of the team’s 10 points before Shake Melton ended the half with one of his team’s biggest shots of the season. That closed the gap to one point. It was the end of the half. And they showed the Garden crowd why once Embiid started to get things going in the second quarter. But I started up the game soft. Philly went on to outscore the Knicks, 94-75,over the final three quarters.

When the Sixers and the Knicks met earlier this season, Philadelphia was down two key players. With Joel Embiid and James Harden out for the night, the Sixers ...

The veteran dropped 12 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter. Once Embiid’s teammates started getting the ball rolling in the fourth quarter, the big man was rewarded with a team win. Meanwhile, James Harden dished out five of his 13 total assists in the fourth quarter. It didn’t take very long for the Sixers to gain their first lead of the game after entering the fourth quarter trailing by one point. Overall, the Knicks drained over 70 percent of their shots in the third quarter. Meanwhile, the Knicks continued rolling on the back of Julius Randle, who knocked down five of his eight second-quarter baskets for 12 points. Meanwhile, his co-star James Harden started catching fire towards the end of the quarter. The Sixers didn’t necessarily bounce back quickly after a slow start to the matchup. The Sixers didn’t shoot as efficiently from the field. Seven of Embiid’s points came from the free-throw line. [Los Angeles Clippers](http://si.com/nba/clippers) on Friday, the Sixers picked up their seventh victory in a row. Since the November 4 battle between the Sixers and the Knicks, both teams have established a hot streak.

Joel Embiid led Philadelphia with 35 points and eight rebounds, Harden had 29 points and 13 assists, De'Anthony Melton added 15 points on the strength of five ...

[December 25, 2022] The Philadelphia 76ers found themselves playing on Christmas Day for the first time since 2019 as they paid a visit to the rival New York Knicks up at Madison Square Garden.

Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers address their big 2nd half in order to knock off the New York Knicks on Christmas.

New York is also a home for me so I’m still with my family so I get the chance to be around them and still be in this type of environment which is great so it’s a blessing and it’s great to get the win, too.” “What I loved was Joel saw we had something going with the two-man game of Georges and James and he was greatly fine with that. The Knicks had 19 second-chance points in the first half as Mitchell Robinson and Julius Randle imposed their will. They then turned it on in the second half and they came away with They had eight points on the break and they opened up a 14-point lead in the first quarter. The Sixers looked slow and sluggish as they shot just 42.1% in the first quarter while New York was at 50% and they drilled five triples.

Joel Embiid (21) of the Philadelphia 76ers goes up for a layup during the second quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Sunday in New ...

Philadelphia 76ers star James Harden is now seriously considering a return to the Houston Rockets.

If Harden were to leave and go back to the Rockets in the summer of 2023, it would be disappointing for this front office to really strike out on such a big deal. For all of Harden’s history and connection with Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey and CEO Tad Brown, his working relationships with Embiid and coach Doc Rivers resemble something closer to a work in progress. The Sixers went big for Harden at the deadline in 2022 as they sent Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, and a slew of picks to the Brooklyn Nets for the future Hall of Fame guard.

NEW YORK — James Harden has figured out when to pick his spots. The 76ers are not quite there yet, but they are starting to grow a sense of invincibility.

If I’m not aggressive and I’m not dominant to start the game, it just translates to the whole team. The Sixers trailed, 37-25, after the first 12 minutes because of their defensive shortcoming. And they were down 14 in the first quarter to the Knicks. “We just have to take it one game at a time. Some of the guys were talking about that in the locker room after the game. He said the team is heading in the right direction toward their destination: the NBA Finals. “We’ve got to change it, for the start,” Embiid said. “We try not to have that feeling, because obviously we can be beaten any night. He took a backseat when Joel Embiid was cooking in the third quarter. [Today] was one of those scenarios where he just let me go [and continue a two-man game with Niang]. But they need to erase their slow starts. But he took over after Embiid left late in the quarter.

Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers address their recent slow starts following a win over the New York Knicks.

They’re now 20-12 on the season after a really up-and-down start to the season and despite the slow starts, they are coming away with wins. Embiid was the biggest example of a slow start before then getting going in the second half. “Obviously, you don’t want to get off to a bad start every single game, but this is a long season. These comeback wins are impressive, but the slow starts can’t continue to happen. On Christmas, the Sixers trailed the Knicks by 14 in the first quarter. They have been able to scratch and dig deep lately in order to get the job done despite slow starts.

NEW YORK–On Christmas Day, the Philadelphia 76ers found themselves trailing the New York Knicks by 14 in the first quarter. On the road at Madison Square ...

I think we’re (making) strides and getting better on both ends of the ball, which, as the season goes on — which we’re definitely in the right direction — we’re going to be very, very difficult to beat.” On the road at Madison Square Garden and in front of a raucous New York crowd, it seemed the Knicks would ride that momentum to a victory. The physicality at the level of the screen, guarding our own man, that’s how we’ve been starting.

Over the Sixers' eight-game win streak, Harden is averaging 21.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 12.8 assists on .450/.410/.800 shooting splits. He is playing superb ...

If the Sixers prove they can make a deep run, however, it would be hard to justify bolting for the Rockets. A move to Houston would be born out of Harden’s love of the community, not a desire to bolster his Hall of Fame résumé. It’s clear Harden remains a priority for Daryl Morey and the front office, as he should. The Sixers aren’t favorites, but there’s absolutely a path to glory. The Rockets, meanwhile, are expected to be swimming in cap space. Harden brushed aside the report in his post-game availability on Christmas Day.

Worried about James Harden leaving the Philadelphia 76ers for the Houston Rockets this offseason following a report on Christmas suggesting he might? Don't!

James Harden did decide to target the Sixers’ lone road game in Houston as his return from injury instead of just waiting for their next game at home, which suggests he still has love for Houston in his heart. He writes that “Harden and his inner circle have been openly weighing Houston in recent months,” which amounts to nothing significant past discussions about the move if things with the Sixers go south. and the other youngsters a lot, sure, but he’s not going to be one of their better players by the time they could potentially be a playoff contender. The Sixers have won eight consecutive games and Harden has looked engaged in all of them, especially on the road against the New York Knicks on Christmas, where he helped the Sixers pull away and [secure the victory](https://clutchpoints.com/instant-breakdown-sixers-knicks-christmas-matchup-joel-embiid-james-harden). A long-term deal could be in play and he is eager to secure it. His current, discounted contract is a “prove-it” deal and the portion of the season where he has the most to prove is still months away.

WASHINGTON — Tyrese Maxey is expected to be back with the 76ers toward the end of their current four-game road trip. A league source confirmed to The ...

Philly is also tied with the Minnesota Timberwolves for third in steals (8.5 per game) and rank fifth in free-throw percentage (.818). The Sixers signed Lee on Nov. The small forward later signed a two-way contract with the Sacramento Kings on April 30, 2021 and was waived in February 2022 before finishing last season with the West Chester Knicks. He signed with the Vipers on Nov. The point guard made only two appearances with the team, scoring six points in 10 minutes. He signed two two-way contracts with the Detroit Pistons, one in July 2019 and another in Dec. The team signed the 6-foot-7 small forward to one of its two-way contracts on Monday. 14, 2020, he was signed to an Exhibit 10 deal with New York Knicks on Dec. King was a McDonald’s All-American at North Jersey’s Hudson Catholic High in 2018. The Sixers (20-12) opened their road trip with a 119-112 Christmas Day victory over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. The third-year veteran went to the locker room after splitting a pair of foul shots and did not return. If not then, another source said the aim would be for the shooting guard to return Saturday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Paycom Center.

The team announced Monday night that it's signed forward Louis King to a two-way deal and waived point guard Saben Lee. Rookie wing Julian Champagnie is the ...

That selection will be the best among the Hawks, Nets and Hornets. That length and his naturally smooth athleticism are clear reasons a team might be drawn to him as a prospect. He’s previously been on two-way deals for the Pistons and Kings.

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The red-hot Sixers might get some reinforcements this week. Guard Tyrese Maxey, who has been sidelined since Nov.

18 due to a foot injury, is set to return to the lineup as soon as Friday against the New Orleans Pelicans, according to a report from The Athletic. But a month later, the Sixers are much healthier and have won eight straight games. PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The red-hot Sixers might get some reinforcements this week.

Philadelphia 76ers' Tobias Harris reacts after a basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors, Monday, Dec.

Since then, the Knicks have lost three straight (all at home), including their Christmas Day loss to the Sixers, so it would not be surprising if talks reignite. [According to SNY’s Ian Begley](https://twitter.com/IanBegley/status/1607372412437372931), the New York Knicks have “at least talked internally” discussed the idea of trading for Sixers’ forward Tobias Harris. [Philadelphia 76ers](https://phillysportsnetwork.com/philadelphia-76ers/) certainly enjoyed their Christmas Day as they stormed back from a slow start and overcame the New York Knicks.

NEW YORK–Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris remains one of the highest-paid players in the league, and he receives criticism for it, ...

CHICAGO, IL – OCTOBER 29: Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) brings the ball up court during a NBA game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the ...

That’s not to say that Maxey couldn’t begin off the bench in his first few games back in action. There is a very simple solution for this problem — resting Maxey early in games and staggering him and Harden — and as that’s the case, there’s just no sound reason to risk any relational harm by starkly adjusting his role. Also, according to Shams Charania, when he does return to the Sixers, Tyrese Maxey will be placed on a minutes restriction. In his mere two-and-a-half seasons, Maxey has proved that he is a fixture of the team’s future, not some chess piece to be moved on a whim. Had Maxey not suffered the ill-fated foot injury over a month ago, he would likely be receiving All-Star consideration. Prior to suffering his foot injury, Tyrese Maxey was once again playing the best basketball of his life,

The 23-year-old signed contracts with Phoenix and Toronto in October, but he was waived shortly after each deal was completed. Lee signed a two-way deal with ...

Lee signed a two-way deal with the Sixers on November 23, but hasn’t made an impact at the NBA level, appearing in just two games for 10 total minutes. In 18 games with the Vipers, the 23-year-old averaged 19.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.4 SPG and 0.9 BPG on .451/.314/.778 shooting. The 23-year-old signed contracts with Phoenix and Toronto in October, but he was waived shortly after each deal was completed. He was sent to Utah as part of the [Bojan Bogdanovic](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bogdabo02.html?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.hoopsrumors.com&utm_campaign=2022-12-26_bbr) trade in the offseason and had his guaranteed $1.84MM salary waived by the Jazz before ’22/23 started. Sacramento waived him in February, making him a free agent. The 38th pick of the 2020 draft out of Vanderbilt, Lee spent his first two seasons with the Pistons, averaging 5.6 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 3.3 APG and 0.8 SPG on .434/.265/.731 shooting in 85 games (16.3 MPG). King spent one college season at Oregon before going undrafted in 2019. In 26 career games (9.7 MPG), he holds averages of 4.2 PPG and 1.5 RPG on .392/.327/.684 shooting. [Saben Lee](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/leesa01.html?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.hoopsrumors.com&utm_campaign=2022-12-26_bbr) to make room for King, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype ( [via Twitter](https://twitter.com/MikeAScotto/status/1607456508920451072?cxt=HHwWgMC-4bPL6s4sAAAA)). [acquired](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2022/09/southwest-notes-ingram-hearn-vassell-king-rockets.html) King’s returning player rights at the end of September and he’s been playing for them in 2022/23. [Louis King](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/k/kinglo02.html?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.hoopsrumors.com&utm_campaign=2022-12-26_bbr) to a two-way contract, his agent George Langberg tells ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski ( [Twitter link](https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1607453551000973312?cxt=HHwWgMDTxZ2f6c4sAAAA)).