Behind Embiid, Sixers take first game post-Harden
Joel Embiid had 28 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists and the 76ers won in their first game since trading James Harden, beating the Toronto Raptors 114-99 on Thursday night in Philadelphia.
Kelly Oubre Jr. and Tobias Harris each scored 23 points for the 76ers. Tyrese Maxey had 18.
Scottie Barnes led the Raptors with 24 points and O.G. Anunoby had 16.
Toronto snapped a three-game losing streak with a 130-111 home victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night. The Raptors failed to build off the win and instead made it two losses already this season to the 76ers.
The 76ers may need another game or two before they finally adapt to a roster without Harden. They were used to playing without the 10-time All-Star — the 76ers went 2-1 without him — but coach Nick Nurse needs time to integrate the new additions.
Oubre's ascension to the starting lineup in place of PJ Tucker, who was included in the Harden deal, left the 76ers with a thin bench. Marcus Morris and Nic Batum did not play in their first game since they were dealt by the Clippers.
SPURS 132, SUNS 121 ❯❯ Rookie Victor Wembanyama scored a seasonhigh 38 points, Zach Collins added 19 and San Antonio held off host Phoenix's late charge. The Suns erased a 27-point deficit, tying it at 116 with 4:21 left on Keita BatesDiop's 3-pointer, but the Spurs responding by scoring the next 12 points, including 10 from the precocious Wembanyama.
MAGIC 115, JAZZ 113 ❯❯ Paolo Banchero scored 30 points, making the deciding layup with 14 seconds left, in
Orlando's victory in Salt Lake City. Banchero added nine rebounds and five assists to help the Magic win for the third time in 15 games against Utah. Franz Wagner added 21 points, and Cole Anthony had 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists. Lauri Markkanen led the Jazz with 22 points and seven rebounds. PELICANS 125, PISTONS 116 ❯❯ CJ McCollum scored 33 points and the shorthanded Pelicans won at home with both teams playing for the second straight night. New Orleans played without starting power forward Zion Williamson and starting wing Brandon Ingram, who are two of their top scorers. Williamson, who has been injury prone during his first four NBA seasons, was given the night off with the back-to-back and the Pelicans also playing the second of three games in four nights. NOTE ❯❯ Walter Davis, a fivetime NBA All-Star who had his number retired by the Phoenix Suns, has died. He was 69.
Davis was star in college for North Carolina, where he played for the late Dean Smith. It was North Carolina, where Davis' nephew Hubert Davis is the Tar Heels basketball coach, which announced Water Davis' death Thursday.
The school's release said Walter Davis died Thursday morning of natural causes while visiting family in Charlotte, N.C.
Walter Davis was drafted fifth overall by Phoenix in 1977 and became the NBA rookie of the year after averaging 24.2 points a game. He played 11 of his 16 pro seasons with the Suns, who retired his No. 6.
Davis moved to Denver for three seasons and Portland for one before returning to the Nuggets in 19921993 for his final year.