James Harden continues to shine as the Sun get back to winning ways

(Basketball news) The Philadelphia 76ers continued their rise above the table as they won 123 – 108 against the New York Knicks. For the 76ers, James Harden scored 26 points, nine assists and nine, Joel Embiid had 27 points and 12 rebounds and Tyrese Maxey scored 25 points. The Sixers moved to 3-0 with Harden in the lineup and his dynamic duo linkup with Embiid has suddenly stamped the Sixers as legitimate contenders in the Eastern Conference. For the Knicks, RJ Barett scored 30 points and Julius Randle had 24 points in a very unenterprising performance from them. With this result the 76ers moved within a win of the Bulls as they are currently 3rd in the Eastern Conference with a record of 38-23.

''I just wanted to come out there and show my love back,'' Harden said in his home debut.

''I feel like you can put me anywhere in the room and I can fit in,'' Harden said. ''Here is no different. Just see what you have and try your best to fit in. Be the best James Harden I can be in every aspect.''

''It felt like a playoff atmosphere,'' Embiid said. ''I've given a lot of credit to Philly fans over the years and they've always come through, win or lose.''

''I do the same job, the same work. It's just that more people notice,'' Rivers said. ''I think when you get a guy like James and Joel together with what we have, with all of our other guys, our guys sense it, too. Not the hoopla, though. It's that they have a real shot. You don't get many of these.''

''I just want us to lock into improvement. come in every day, put everything you have into it,'' Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. ''That's where our focus has to lie right now. We've got to get over the hump and close the games out. That's our challenge. Keep growing, keep getting better ,learn from mistakes.''

The Phoenix Suns got back to winning ways after the Pelicans had snapped their winning streak as they won 120-95 against the Portland Trail Blazers. For the Suns, Cam Johnson scored 20 points, Deandre Ayton added 18, Mikal Bridges and Jae Crowder each added 15 points, with Bridges shooting 6 of 9 and the Suns became the first NBA team to 50 wins this season. For the Trail Blazers, Brandon Williams had a career-high 14 points as 4 of the 5 starters got into double digits but couldn’t really get going. With this result the Suns stayed on top of the Eastern Conference table with the best NBA record currently of 50-12.

''It feels good,'' Johnson said. ''Fifty is a big benchmark in this league, but now we want to get to 60.''

''My biggest concern is just trying to get some continuity with our new guys and the guys we had here,'' Portland coach Chauncey Billups said. ''That is the biggest thing for me. The problem is it's tough to rush that. You have to get it when it comes and keep chipping away at it.''

'We were moving the ball,'' guard Cameron Payne said. ''We played well. We've just got to keep it going.''

Also read: Lakers lose three in a row and Warriors also lose to the Timberwolves

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