Harden shines in his Sixers home debut

James Harden had a packed house in a frenzy from the moment he was introduced as “making his Philadelphia home debut,” then flashed his MVP-form with 26 points, nine assists and nine rebounds to lead the 76ers to a 123-108 win over the New York Knicks on Wednesday night.

Joel Embiid had 27 points and 12 rebounds. Tyrese Maxey scored 25 points.

But the night belonged to the Beard.

The Sixers moved to 3-0 with Harden in the lineup and his dynamic duo hookup with Embiid has suddenly stamped the Sixers as legitimate contenders in the Eastern Conference.

Harden, acquired from the Brooklyn Nets on Feb. 10, needed time to warm up to the new digs. His first points came with 5:32 left in the first quarter on, naturally, an and-1 conversion. He followed that with, yup, his step-back 3 to give him five fast points. He scored 13 points in the second quarter. HORNETS 119, CAVALIERS 98 >> Terry Rozier scored 29 points and carried visiting Charlotte's backcourt with LaMelo Ball in foul trouble, leading the Hornets to a victory over Cleveland, which lost for the fifth time in six games.

Rozier added seven assists and seven rebounds for Charlotte, which made 17 3-pointers.

The Cavaliers, who have been ravaged by injuries to their backcourt, welcomed back All-Star Darius Garland after he missed three games with a bone bruise in his back. He had 33 points in 33 minutes.

PELICANS 125, KINGS 95 >> Brandon Ingram scored 33 points on 15-of-19 shooting and host New Orleans beat Sacramento for its third straight victory.

Jonas Valanciunas had 17 points and 14 rebounds, and CJ McCollum had 17 points and nine assists for the Pelicans.

PACERS 122, MAGIC 114, OT >> Malcolm Brogdon had 31 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists and Indiana overcame a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat host Orlando.

Tyrese Haliburton added 21 points and six assists.

Franz Wagner led Orlando with 28 points. SUNS' BOOKER ENTERS PROTOCOLS >> Phoenix Suns AllStar guard Devin Booker missed Wednesday night's game against the Portland Trail Blazers after entering the NBA's health and safety protocol.

Booker is a three-time All-Star and the team's leading scorer, averaging 25.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists. The 25-yearold's absence is another blow to the Suns, who are also missing fellow All-Star guard Chris Paul.