PHILADELPHIA – James Harden did not score 100 points, but scored enough to repel the annoying Knicks on Wednesday at the festive Wells Fargo Center.
In a bid to ruin the big old 76ers game that Harden met in Philly for his first home game, the Knicks led by 16 points in the first half before dropping 38-3 in the third quarter, the Achilles’ heel of their season.
It felt like a playoff atmosphere, but the Knicks didn’t seem to be going to the playoffs. Harden scored 26 points, nine assists and nine rebounds after the Slip Knicks took another double-digit lead in the 123-108 defeat.
Coach Tom Thibodeut then said he was more “concerned” with the defense than the attack, and Julius Randall repeated to the coach in long jealousy that the club had lost its defensive identity last season. The Knicks have dropped out six in a row and are 3-16 in their last 19 races.
“I just think we have to fight in defense,” Randall said. “The coach had to announce a time-out in the first minutes of the second half because we didn’t fight hard enough. It starts with us. We do not stop at critical moments. The teams start running.
“When you look at who we were last year, we were the best defensive team in the league and we were proud to stop at critical moments,” Randall added. “We will order three or four stops in a row. One of the things the coaching staff shows us after matches is how many times we have had three consecutive stops. We are not doing enough. “
James Harden, who has 26 points and nine assists, made a pass during the Knicks’ 123-108 loss to the 76ers. Getty Images
It was also a night to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point stage when he defeated the Knicks in Hershey, Pennsylvania, as the Philadelphia Warrior.
The NBA deliberately plans this match to coincide with the anniversary. It was branded “Wilt Night” – but it was “Knicks Night” only in the first half.
As they did 60 years ago, the Knicks lost to Philly, this time although Randall (24) and RJ Barrett (30 and seven assists) combined for 54 points. However, Randall has scored just 12 points in the last three periods since the first quarter with 12 points.
Their record fell to 25-37 when the Knicks finished their first of seven consecutive road races. With the remaining 20 games, the Knicks season is over.
On Sunday, Evan Fournier said the club was playing without confidence in the fourth quarter. Randall disagreed.
Julius Randall, who scored 24 points, fell into the basket during the Knicks’ loss to the 76ers. Getty Images
“Personally not, but I think as a team there may be a lack of confidence in general,” Randall said. “When you start losing a few in a row, it kills the team spirit. Personally, I might do something to inspire our game, to give words of encouragement. But this is a really difficult league. That is why victory is so precious. We need to find a way to get it. “
Asked specifically if team spirit was declining, Randall said: “I’m the type of man with a half cup. I know you’re half empty, but I’m half full. “
However, the Knicks played only half a game.
The “beard” roared from the tunnel to applause during the intro before the game, after which Sixers fans applauded Harden every time the former Net touched the ball in the first minutes.
At the last minute, he waved to the audience to applaud even more when they increased the lead to 16 points, and the public call system made a loud “Bing Bong” sound to mock the Knicks mantra.
Harden had a lot of help from his new friends from Phil, as center Joel Embiid (27 points), rising former Kentucky guard Tyris Maxi (25 points) and Tobias Harris from Long Island (14 points) were too much for the incredible Knicks lineup. without security point.
The Knicks had just 20 assists and are last in the league in midfield, but Thibodeau has not been moved to make a change with Alec Burks as starter and Immanuel Quickley as reserve.
“It’s the best we have, so we’re doing it and they’re capable,” Thibodeau said.
Indeed, it was a real stench for the Fournier shooting guard, who can’t stand anything this season. After scoring 24 against Philly on Sunday, he collected just three points (1 of 8, 0-for-5 of 3) and remained on the bench in the fourth quarter.
“We conceded 68 points in the second half,” said Thibodeau. “We have to find a way to win. We do some good things – we don’t do enough to win. “