PHILADELPHIA — James Harden didn’t rating 100 factors, however he did rating sufficient to repel the pesky Knicks on Wednesday at festive Wells Fargo Middle.
Trying to spoil the 76ers’ grand outdated occasion that welcomed Harden to Philly for his first residence sport, the Knicks led by 16 factors within the first half earlier than folding in a 38-19 third quarter — their season’s Achilles’ heel.
It felt like a playoff environment, however the Knicks don't appear like they will the playoffs. Harden went for 26 factors, 9 assists and 9 rebounds because the skidding Knicks blew one other double-digit lead within the 123-108 defeat.
Afterward, coach Tom Thibodeau stated he’s extra “involved’’ with the protection than the offense and Julius Randle echoed the coach in a protracted rant concerning the membership dropping their defensive id from final season. The Knicks have dropped six straight and are 3-16 of their previous 19 contests.
“I simply suppose we acquired to be combating on the defensive finish,’’ Randle stated. “Coach needed to name timeout within the first minutes of the second half as a result of we weren’t combating sufficient. It begins with us. We’re not getting stops at vital moments. Groups are getting on runs.
“Whenever you have a look at who we had been final yr, we had been one of the best defensive group within the league and prided ourselves on getting stops at vital moments,’’ Randle added. “We’d string collectively three, 4 stops in a row. One of many issues are teaching employees reveals us after video games is what number of instances we acquired three stops in a row. We’re not doing that sufficient.’’
This was additionally an evening to have a good time the sixtieth anniversary of Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point milestone, when he crushed the Knicks in Hershey, Pa., as a Philadelphia Warrior.
The NBA purposely scheduled this matchup to coincide with the anniversary. It was branded as “Wilt Evening’’ — but it surely was the “Knicks Evening” just for the primary half.
As they did 60 years in the past, the Knicks misplaced to Philly, this time regardless of Randle (24) and RJ Barrett (30 and 7 assists) combining for 54 factors. Nonetheless, Randle scored simply 12 factors within the last three intervals after a 12-point first quarter.
Their document dropped to 25-37 because the Knicks accomplished their first of seven straight street contests. With 20 video games left, the Knicks’ season already feels over.
Sunday, Evan Fournier stated the membership is enjoying with no confidence in fourth quarters. Randle didn’t precisely disagree.
“Personally, no, however I really feel like as a group there could possibly be a insecurity on the whole perhaps,’’ Randle stated. “Whenever you begin dropping a couple of in a row, it type of kills the group spirit. I personally perhaps do one thing to encourage our sport, give phrases of encouragement. Nevertheless it’s a very arduous league. That’s why successful is so treasured. We acquired to discover a technique to get one.’’
When requested particularly if group spirit is waning, Randle stated, “I’m a glass-half-full kind of man. I do know you’re half-empty however I’m half-full.’’
The Knicks solely performed half a sport, although.
“The Beard’’ roared out of the tunnel to a standing ovation throughout pregame intros, then the Sixers’ followers cheered Harden each time the previous Internet touched the ball within the opening minutes.
Within the last minute, he waved on the gang to cheer extra as they upped the result in 16 factors and the general public tackle system rang out a loud “Bing Bong’’ sound to mock the Knicks’ mantra.
Harden had loads of assist from his new Philly associates as heart Joel Embiid (27 factors), rising former Kentucky guard Tyrese Maxey (25 factors) and Lengthy Island’s Tobias Harris (14 factors) had been an excessive amount of for the Knicks’ underwhelming roster missing a degree guard.
The Knicks had simply 20 assists and are final within the league in per-game common, however Thibodeau isn’t moved to make a change with Alec Burks as starter and Immanuel Quickley as backup.
“That’s one of the best we've got, in order that’s what we’re doing, and so they’re succesful,’’ Thibodeau stated.
Certainly, it was an actual stinker for the taking pictures guard Fournier, who can’t maintain something this season. After scoring 24 towards Philly on Sunday, he mounted simply three factors (1 of 8, 0-for-5 from 3) and was benched for the fourth quarter.
“We gave up 68 factors within the second half,’’ Thibodeau stated. “We acquired to discover a technique to win. We’re performing some good issues — not doing sufficient of it to win.’’
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