Maxey, Embiid, Harris power 76ers to 96-84 win over Nets

PHILADELPHIA(AP) — Tyrese Maxey scored 33 points, Joel Embiid and Tobias Harrishad 20 apiece, and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Brooklyn Nets96-84 on Monday night to take a 2-0 lead in their EasternConference playoff series.

Embiid, thetwo-time NBA scoring champion, was quiet offensively, going 6 of 11from the floor, but he did just about everything else. The MVPfinalist had 19 rebounds, seven assists and three blocks.

Harris had 12rebounds. James Harden scored only eight points on 3-of-13 shootingfor the Sixers after a sensational Game 1 effort.

Game 3 isThursday in New York.

Cam Johnsonled the Nets with 28 points. Johnsonsent Embiid stumbling on aone-handed dunkdown the right side that posterized the7-footer. Johnson stared down Embiid as the Nets forwardbackpedaled on defense in the first half.

That wasBrooklyn’s last GIF-worthy highlight.

Maybe the76ers just needed to listen to their coach more as they chase theirfirst NBA championship since 1983.

AfterBrooklyn scored the first bucket of the second half, Doc Riverscalled a quick timeout.

“C’mon, guys!C’mon!” Rivers implored in the huddle. “Listen, it’s up to y’allwhat you all want to do.“

How aboutfinally decide the game.

Maxey, whokept the Sixers alive with 15 points in the first half, was stuffedby the rim on a fast break but Harris followed for the bucket andthe 76ers finally tied the game at 55-all. Maxey didn’t miss on thenext possession — a corner 3 that sent the crowd into a frenzy.

Then PJTucker missed a 3, grabbed his own rebound, dished to Harden andthe Beard buried his first 3 of the game. Harris came right backand connected on a 3 that had him hopping and waving his arms offthe court headed into a timeout.

Embiid pumpedhis fist in the air and exhorted the crowd to get louder with a64-56 lead.

The Sixersneeded the spark after they spiraled from Game 1 dominance to Game2 disaster in the first half.

No Sixerrepresented that fall more than Harden. His seven 3s steadied theSixers in the opener but the aging vet — who battled left Achillestendon soreness down the stretch of the regular season — wasoverwhelmed in Game 2. He missed 6 of 7 shots in the first half andall four 3-point attempts. Throw in two fouls and five turnoversand it was a marvel the Sixers only trailed 49-44 at the break.

That had todistress the Nets. Johnson scored 22 points in the half but — muchlike in Game 1 — the Nets got crushed on the boards and in thepaint. Embiid scored eight points but grabbed 15 boards, 13defensive.

Embiid seemedto make up for some offensive frustration with a two-handed jamlate in the game that brought the crowd to its feet.

TIP-INS

Nets: Havelost six straight playoff games to the 76ers. ... Mikal Bridgesscored 21 points after he had 30 in Game 1.

76ers:Embiid’s 15 rebounds were the most by any 76ers player in a playoffhalf in the last 25 seasons. ... Maxey made 13 of 25 shots.

UP NEXT

The Sixerswent 2-0 at Brooklyn this season and 4-0 against the Netsoverall.