James Harden scores 26, leads Sixers to win in home debut

He was quiet early, as he didn't score for the first six-and-a-half minutes of the game. Once he finally did get on the board, he did so in classic Harden fashion; he drove to the paint and got fouled, getting the layup to go and converting on the and-one free throw.

The next time down, Harden pulled out another vintage move of his — the step-back three. He drilled it from 25 feet to get the Sixers back within one score, but the Knicks ended the first quarter leading 33-25. 

The second quarter was about even, as the Sixers cut the deficit to seven going into halftime. But in the third quarter, the tides turned in their favor, thanks in part to Harden.

Joel Embiid got things going with an and-one bucket to open the second half off an assist from Harden, and on the following possession, he poured one in from deep off a dime from his new running mate. The Sixers went on to outscore the Knicks 38-19 in the third, thanks to Embiid and Harden but largely Tyrese Maxey, who scored 11 in the period.

Leading by 12 to start the fourth, Philadelphia kept New York at an arm's length the rest of the way. The Knicks got it within eight, but the Sixers outpowered them down the stretch to win by double digits.

Harden has now scored 27, 29 and 26 points in his three games with the Sixers, good for 27.3 points per game. Wednesday was the first time he hasn't logged at least a double-double.

Embiid led Philadelphia with 27 points, with Harden and Maxey right behind with 26 and 25. Embiid also pulled in a game-high 12 rebounds.

RJ Barrett led the Knicks with 30 points, six rebounds and seven assists. Julius Randle logged 24 points, six rebounds and three assists.