Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Clippers 122-97 after a strong start in the first quarter. The Sixers started the game with a 35-19 run, and James Harden finished the first half with 25 points and 11 rebounds for the Sixers.
Harden and LeBron James are the only players in the league to have a double-double in a half in which they scored at least 25 points.
Harden and Joel Embiid had a double-double in the victory for Philadelphia to pull within a half game of the Miami Heat for first place in the Eastern Conference.
All five Sixers starters scored in double figures and recorded at least one steal. In the end, the team racked up 12 steals and eight blocked shots.
Embiid finished with 27 points and 10 rebounds along with two assists, one steal, and two blocks in 28 minutes. Embiid registered his 38th double-double this season.
”When shots are going in, it makes it better. Tonight was one of those nights where I felt good, we got out to a big lead and the wave continued the entire game,” Harden said, via NBA.com.
The Sixers led by as many as 23 points in the second period, but they knew they had to play all 48 minutes after Philadelphia blew a 24-point advantage to Los Angeles in the teams’ January meeting.
”We were overmatched. They played well and we didn’t play our best game,” Clippers HC Tyron Lue said. ”We had some chances to cut the lead a couple times. We got some rebounds but then turned it over, and then the game got away from us.”
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