It felt like a bit of a fresh start for the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night, despite them already being a favorite in the Eastern Conference. They debuted their new starting lineup, now featuring Tobias Harris, who was acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers at the trade deadline. Their first test together was a big one, but they passed it at the Wells Fargo Center on Friday with a 117-110 win over the Denver Nuggets. JJ Redick benefited the most from the new-look lineup with a season-high 34 points, while Jimmy Butler had 22 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, just one day after the Sixers made numerous deals before Thursday's 3:00pm EST. deadline.
Harris admitted that he was very excited when he caught wind of the news that he had been traded, and played very excited on Friday. He got the most touches with the new starting five on the floor and finished with 14 points and eight rebounds on the night. Joel Embiid was playing through a stomach flu, but still managed to record a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds. Philadelphia debuted four new players altogether on Friday, including Boban Marjanovic, Mike Scott, and Johnathan Simmons, all of whom were acquired this week. They also got James Ennis from the Houston Rockets, who will make his team debut on Sunday.
The win for Philly ties them with the Boston Celtics for the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference, with the Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors, and the short-handed Indiana Pacers sitting ahead of them. The 76ers led Friday night by as many as 16, getting the best of the second-best team in the Western Conference. The Nuggets did get a triple-double of 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists from All-Star Nikola Jokic in their 18th loss of the year.
The Sixers will stay home this weekend for another intriguing matchup on Sunday against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. Meanwhile, the Nuggets will return home on Monday night to battle the Miami Heat.
Harris admitted that he was very excited when he caught wind of the news that he had been traded, and played very excited on Friday. He got the most touches with the new starting five on the floor and finished with 14 points and eight rebounds on the night. Joel Embiid was playing through a stomach flu, but still managed to record a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds. Philadelphia debuted four new players altogether on Friday, including Boban Marjanovic, Mike Scott, and Johnathan Simmons, all of whom were acquired this week. They also got James Ennis from the Houston Rockets, who will make his team debut on Sunday.
The win for Philly ties them with the Boston Celtics for the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference, with the Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors, and the short-handed Indiana Pacers sitting ahead of them. The 76ers led Friday night by as many as 16, getting the best of the second-best team in the Western Conference. The Nuggets did get a triple-double of 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists from All-Star Nikola Jokic in their 18th loss of the year.
The Sixers will stay home this weekend for another intriguing matchup on Sunday against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. Meanwhile, the Nuggets will return home on Monday night to battle the Miami Heat.
