NBA: Embiid, Harden spark 76ers over Nets in playoff opener

 

WASHINGTON – Joel Embiid scored 26 points and James Harden added 23 to lead the Philadelphia 76ers over the Brooklyn Nets 121-101 in an NBA first-round playoff series opener on Saturday.

The host Sixers, who led the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage, sank a club playoff record 21 3-pointers in 43 attempts to seize a 1-0 lead in the Eastern Conference best-of-seven opening series, which continues Monday in Philadelphia.

“(That) was a good win for us,” Harden said. “We’ll be watching film. Game two is going to be the toughest game of the series for us. We’ll be ready to go.”

Embiid, the NBA season scoring leader with 33.1 points a game, was often double-teamed defen…

Keep on reading: NBA: Embiid, Harden spark 76ers over Nets in playoff opener