Harden scores 23 as 76ers cruise past Nets 121-101 in Game 1

PHILADELPHIA(AP) — James Harden feels more at home in Philly this postseasongo-around than he did a year ago when he was still finding hisfooting after a trade. It helps that The Beard knows his rolealongside Joel Embiid, has his health — and his signature step-backis back on point from beyond the arc.

“He’sconfident in how we play now,” coach Doc Rivers said. “Last year,even when he was playing, it was, am I doing the right thinghere?”

Harden hadall the right moves against the Nets.

Harden hitseven 3-pointers and had 23 points and 13 assists, NBA MVP finalistEmbiid scored 26 points and the Philadelphia 76ers pushed backMikal Bridges and the Brooklyn Nets in a 121-101 Game 1 victory onSaturday.

Tobias Harrisadded 21 points and the 76ers hit a postseason team-record 21 3s inthe opener of this Eastern Conference playoff series. The Sixersare trying to win their first NBA championship since 1983 andadvance past the second round for the first time since 2001.

The No.3-seeded 76ers host Game 2 on Monday.

Bridgesscored 30 points and helped the Nets at least hang around in thefirst half.

ButBrooklyn’sstarless rosterwas no match for Embiid, Harden and aplayoff-tested roster expected to make a deep run in thepostseason. The Sixers had a sellout crowd of 20,913 in a frenzyfrom the opening tip, then blew the game open in the fourth.

Philly got itdone even without a vintage effort from Embiid.

Embiid madeonly 7 of 15 shots (and all 11 free throws) and was flustered attimes against double-teams that followed him all over the court.Embiid wassmacked in the faceona missed dunk that sent him crashing to the court in an attempt todraw a flagrant foul. Embiid got heated when he had his arm lockedup by Royce O’Neale and the two briefly tussled.

The off-nightfrom the floor wasn’t good enough for Nets coach Jacque Vaughn.

“Hopefully,they’ll be calling traveling and 3 seconds on the big fella thenext game,” Vaughn said.

No worriesfor the Sixers, though. Harden, who topped the league in assiststhis season, picked up the slack and stuck it to the Nets with hisstep-back 3s.

“I couldn’tmake a layup,” the 33-year-old Harden said with a laugh. “Butthat’s the least of my worries. My legs, my body feels justpowerful, feels strong.”

Harden’sineffectiveness around the rim in the first half -- he was 1 of 8on 2s -- was offset by his 5-of-7 shooting on 3s. He buried two 3slate against his former team in the second quarter that stretchedthe lead to double digits.

“He lookedgreat from 3,” Embiid said.

Embiid, theNBA scoring champion, could not impose his will against Brooklyn ashe had this season to become an MVP finalist. He only took sevenshots in the first half.

Unlike theregular season, when the Sixers were crushed by the non-Embiidminutes, the reserves came through. De’Anthony Melton, JalenMcDaniels and Georges Niang all hit 3s -- the 76ers made 13 of 21in the half -- to keep them in control of Game 1.

Bridges keptGame 1 from becoming an early rout in a homecoming effort.

Bridgesattended Great Valley High School in Malvern, Pennsylvania, justoutside Philadelphia, then played three seasons at Villanova.Bridges helped the Wildcats win two national championship -- the2016 and 2018 national championship banners hang in the Wells FargoCenter rafters. Bridges seemed he would stay in the area when hewas drafted by the 76ers with the No. 10 pick in the 2018draft.

Then came apair of embarrassments in rapid succession: Bridges celebrated ondraft night with his mom, who worked at the time for the 76ers. Thefeel-good reunion lasted about 15 minutes and Bridges was traded toPhoenix for Zhaire Smith. Bridges is now a bona fide NBA star whileSmith flamed out after only 13 career NBA games.

Philly fanscan only imagine Bridges in this lineup.

He made 10 of16 shots for 23 points in the first half and kept the Nets, whoopened the season with Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and championshipaspirations, within nine at halftime.

“It feelsgood to make some shots,” Bridges said. “But I’d rather miss shotsand win. It’s whatever.”

TIP-INS

Nets: Took 70shots compared to 89 for the 76ers. ... Lost second-chance points21-3.

76ers: Eaglescoach Nick Sirianni rang the ceremonial bell. ... Backup C PaulReed scored 11 points. ... The previous high for 3s in a playoffgame was 18, which had been done twice.

FAMILYAFFAIR

Brooklyn’sSeth Curry scored 10 points in his family reunion against hisfather-in-law, Rivers.

Rivers saidcoaching against Curry, who played under his father-in-law with the76ers before he was traded last season, was “awkward.”

“Talking tomy daughter this morning, I just thought she was cold,” Riverssaid, laughing. “I didn’t appreciate the conversation.”