Harris scores 37, leads 76ers past Wizards 125-118 in Game 1
PHILADELPHIA (AP) Tobias Harris picked a pair of Philadelphia's deep reserves to knock him around and toughen his game on the low post. The trio talked smack, and their post-practice workout sessions resembled a kind of bully ball for most of the last three months, all so Harris was better equipped for the postseason grind.
''I know the people who watch, the people who see, my teammates, they respect that,'' Harris said.
And the payoff?
''You have a night like this,'' Harris said.
Harris showed why top-seeded Philadelphia might have its own Big 3 worthy of winning a championship. He scored 37 points, carrying Philadelphia's offense when it sagged early, and the 76ers survived the sub.-500 Washington Wizards in a 125-118 Game 1 victory on Sunday.
''We see him early on dominating the game and you want to keep giving him the ball because he's feeling it,'' guard Ben Simmons said.
Harris scored 28 points in the first half, making a case that Philly has - with All-Stars Joel Embiid and Simmons - three big stars that could rival the superstar trio of Kevin Durant-James Harden-Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn.
Embiid finished with 30 points. Game 2 is Wednesday in Philadelphia.
The Sixers needed Harris' outburst to offset an upset-minded Wizards team that was within five points with 45 seconds left. Bradley Beal scored 33 points and Russell Westbrook had 16 - but neither sensational scorer took over in long enough stretches needed for an upset.
Westbrook even stepped out of bounds with 37 seconds left, cutting off a potential rally. He declined to say if the referees made the correct call.
''It doesn't matter now. It don't matter,'' Westbrook said.
Unable to create consistent offense outside of Harris, the Sixers finally put together a 3-point barrage late in the third quarter that had 11,160 fans - roughly half-capacity - sounding as if it was 20,000-plus packing the house.
Harris, of course, hit a tying 3, Seth Curry hit his first, Danny Green buried one and Curry pounded his chest and talked smack after another 3 made it 88-81.
The fans erupted soon after in a ''Trust the Process'' chant with Embiid at the free-throw line, and the Sixers closed the quarter with a 99-93 lead.
The Sixers hung on for their first playoff win in two years, even as Simmons went 0 for 6 from the free-throw line and scored only six points. He had 15 rebounds and 15 assists.
''He created so many points for us,'' coach Doc Rivers said.
Embiid was whistled for three fouls and the Sixers missed 14 of 17 3-pointers in the first half, leaving it up to Harris to play up to his $180 million contract.
Harris spent the season believing he was worthy of an All-Star spot and opened some eyes with 28 points on 12-of-19 shooting in the half. He played the half like he was trying to win a game of HORSE - turnarounds, fallaway jumpers, pull-up jumpers in the paint, and in one instance, he drove the length of the court before he hit a little floater. He finished 15 of 29 from the floor and hit two 3-pointers.
Some of the credit to his success went to two Sixers not in the Game 1 box score - Rayjon Tucker and Paul Reed.
''They've got a lot of guys that can fill the stat sheet and Tobias was that guy tonight,'' Beal said.
Beal, who torched the Sixers for 60 points in January and has been bothered of late by a strained left hamstring, and Westbrook combined for just 20 points in the first half, but Washington led 62-61 at the break.
Washington advanced by routing the Indiana Pacers to emerge from the play-in round as the East's No. 8 seed, returning to the playoffs after a two-year absence. The Wizards were a disaster early in the season, dealing with injuries and a COVID-19 outbreak. They started 0-5 and were 17-32 in early April. They made the playoffs at 34-38 and are trying to become the first team with a losing record to win a playoff series since the 1987 Seattle SuperSonics.
Washington's must-win attitude down the stretch spilled into Game 1. The Game 1 trend this weekend had been heavy favorites with time off - such as Brooklyn against Boston - needing time to find their legs before putting the game away. The Wizards played Thursday - while the Sixers had a full week off - and played every minute as a team determined to steal one on the road.
''I don't think I played great. I don't think I had a good game,'' Beal said. ''I think we still got a couple levels we can tap into.''
TIP-INS
Wizards: Went on a 10-0 run late in the first quarter with Embiid and Simmons on the bench. ... Washington and Philadelphia played each other for the first time in the postseason since 1986.
76ers: Dikembe Mutombo, who helped lead the Sixers to the 2001 NBA Finals, received a rousing ovation when he rang the ceremonial bell to start the game. .. They went 27-5 in the regular season with Simmons, Curry, Green, Harris and Embiid in the starting lineup. ... Harris' 28 first-half points were the most by a Sixer in a playoff game since Allen Iverson scored 30 against New Orleans in 2003.
YOU'RE THE MAN
Rivers went to each Sixer this week and told him how important his contribution this season was to their success.
''I thought this year, every guy needed to know what their value was to this team and how important they were, and how important each guy's role was,'' he said.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Alex Len vs. Joel Embiid (Tobias Harris gains possession) | |||
11:41 | +2 | Joel Embiid makes two point jump shot (Danny Green assists) | 0-2 | |
11:18 | +2 | Alex Len makes two point floating jump shot (Russell Westbrook assists) | 2-2 | |
11:08 | +2 | Ben Simmons makes two point turnaround hook shot | 2-4 | |
10:55 | Tobias Harris kicked ball violation | |||
10:49 | Joel Embiid shooting foul (Alex Len draws the foul) | |||
10:49 | +1 | Alex Len makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 3-4 | |
10:49 | +1 | Alex Len makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 4-4 | |
10:33 | +2 | Tobias Harris makes two point driving layup (Seth Curry assists) | 4-6 | |
10:24 | Bradley Beal misses three point jump shot | |||
10:21 | Tobias Harris defensive rebound | |||
10:17 | +2 | Ben Simmons makes two point reverse layup (Tobias Harris assists) | 4-8 | |
9:59 | Alex Len misses two point driving hook shot | |||
9:57 | Seth Curry defensive rebound | |||
9:47 | +2 | Tobias Harris makes two point turnaround jump shot | 4-10 | |
9:31 | Rui Hachimura misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
9:29 | Danny Green defensive rebound | |||
9:21 | Ben Simmons turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | |||
9:18 | Ben Simmons personal foul (Russell Westbrook draws the foul) | |||
9:08 | Rui Hachimura misses two point layup | |||
9:06 | Wizards offensive rebound | |||
8:57 | +2 | Russell Westbrook makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 6-10 | |
8:38 | Joel Embiid misses two point step back jump shot | |||
8:36 | Alex Len defensive rebound | |||
8:29 | Russell Westbrook misses two point jump shot | |||
8:26 | Joel Embiid defensive rebound | |||
8:21 | Alex Len personal foul (Joel Embiid draws the foul) | |||
8:11 | +2 | Tobias Harris makes two point turnaround jump shot | 6-12 | |
7:54 | Alex Len misses two point floating jump shot | |||
7:54 | Wizards offensive rebound | |||
7:54 | Danny Green personal foul (Loose ball) (Russell Westbrook draws the foul) | |||
7:47 | Russell Westbrook turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
7:37 | Joel Embiid misses three point jump shot | |||
7:34 | Russell Westbrook defensive rebound | |||
7:25 | Russell Westbrook turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
7:08 | Tobias Harris misses three point jump shot | |||
7:06 | Raul Neto defensive rebound | |||
6:58 | Raul Neto turnover (lost ball) (Seth Curry steals) | |||
6:51 | Seth Curry misses three point jump shot | |||
6:47 | Danny Green offensive rebound | |||
6:46 | Joel Embiid misses three point jump shot | |||
6:43 | Russell Westbrook defensive rebound | |||
6:38 | Russell Westbrook misses two point jump shot | |||
6:34 | Ben Simmons defensive rebound | |||
6:28 | Joel Embiid offensive foul (Alex Len draws the foul) | |||
6:28 | Joel Embiid turnover (offensive foul) | |||
6:28 | 76ers 60 second timeout | |||
6:16 | Alex Len turnover (bad pass) (Dwight Howard steals) | |||
6:00 | +2 | Tobias Harris makes two point jump shot (Ben Simmons assists) | 6-14 | |
5:46 | Bradley Beal misses three point jump shot | |||
5:43 | Tobias Harris defensive rebound | |||
5:36 | +2 | Tobias Harris makes two point floating jump shot | 6-16 | |
5:26 | +2 | Ish Smith makes two point finger roll layup | 8-16 | |
5:09 | Alex Len shooting foul (Dwight Howard draws the foul) | |||
5:09 | +1 | Dwight Howard makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 8-17 | |
5:09 | Dwight Howard misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
5:08 | Ben Simmons offensive rebound | |||
5:08 | Daniel Gafford shooting foul (Ben Simmons draws the foul) | |||
5:08 | Ben Simmons misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
5:08 | 76ers offensive rebound | |||
5:08 | Ben Simmons misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
5:05 | Bradley Beal defensive rebound | |||
4:47 | +2 | Bradley Beal makes two point driving layup | 10-17 | |
4:33 | Matisse Thybulle misses three point jump shot | |||
4:31 | Bradley Beal defensive rebound | |||
4:27 | Bradley Beal misses three point jump shot | |||
4:23 | Tobias Harris defensive rebound | |||
4:13 | Ben Simmons misses two point hook shot | |||
4:10 | Bradley Beal defensive rebound | |||
4:10 | Seth Curry personal foul (Ish Smith draws the foul) | |||
4:04 | Seth Curry personal foul (Bradley Beal draws the foul) | |||
4:04 | +1 | Bradley Beal makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 11-17 | |
4:04 | +1 | Bradley Beal makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 12-17 | |
3:40 | George Hill misses two point floating jump shot | |||
3:40 | George Hill offensive rebound | |||
3:36 | +2 | George Hill makes two point putback layup | 12-19 | |
3:32 | +2 | Ish Smith makes two point finger roll layup | 14-19 | |
3:11 | Seth Curry misses two point jump shot | |||
3:08 | Davis Bertans defensive rebound | |||
3:02 | +2 | Bradley Beal makes two point floating jump shot | 16-19 | |
2:47 | +3 | George Hill makes three point jump shot | 16-22 | |
2:47 | Wizards 60 second timeout | |||
2:29 | Ish Smith misses two point floating jump shot | |||
2:23 | Daniel Gafford offensive rebound | |||
2:23 | +2 | Daniel Gafford makes two point putback layup | 18-22 | |
2:04 | Ish Smith blocks Tobias Harris's two point jump shot | |||
2:04 | Ish Smith blocks Tobias Harris's two point jump shot | |||
2:01 | Bradley Beal defensive rebound | |||
1:56 | +3 | Davis Bertans makes three point jump shot (Bradley Beal assists) | 21-22 | |
1:43 | Shake Milton turnover (bad pass) (Ish Smith steals) | |||
1:35 | +3 | Davis Bertans makes three point jump shot (Bradley Beal assists) | 24-22 | |
1:18 | Tobias Harris turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
1:11 | +2 | Daniel Gafford makes two point dunk (Davis Bertans assists) | 26-22 | |
0:58 | Matisse Thybulle misses three point jump shot | |||
0:58 | 76ers offensive rebound | |||
0:58 | Daniel Gafford personal foul (Loose ball) (Dwight Howard draws the foul) | |||
0:58 | Daniel Gafford personal foul (Loose ball) (Dwight Howard draws the foul) | |||
0:50 | +2 | Tobias Harris makes two point driving layup (Shake Milton assists) | 26-24 | |
0:42 | Matisse Thybulle blocks Russell Westbrook's two point driving dunk | |||
0:39 | Bradley Beal offensive rebound | |||
0:38 | Bradley Beal misses three point jump shot | |||
0:34 | Shake Milton defensive rebound | |||
0:29 | George Hill misses three point jump shot | |||
0:29 | +2 | Dwight Howard makes two point putback layup | 26-26 | |
0:29 | Robin Lopez shooting foul (Dwight Howard draws the foul) | |||
0:29 | +1 | Dwight Howard makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 26-27 | |
0:07 | Russell Westbrook offensive rebound | |||
0:07 | +2 | Russell Westbrook makes two point finger roll layup | 28-27 | |
0:01 | Shake Milton misses two point finger roll layup | |||
0:01 | 76ers offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:42 | +2 | Ish Smith makes two point jump shot (Russell Westbrook assists) | 30-27 | |
11:28 | Shake Milton misses three point jump shot | |||
11:24 | Bradley Beal defensive rebound | |||
11:14 | +2 | Bradley Beal makes two point floating jump shot | 32-27 | |
10:54 | Furkan Korkmaz misses three point jump shot | |||
10:51 | Bradley Beal defensive rebound | |||
10:42 | Robin Lopez turnover (traveling) | |||
10:30 | Furkan Korkmaz misses three point jump shot | |||
10:26 | Ish Smith defensive rebound | |||
10:18 | Ish Smith misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
10:16 | Ben Simmons defensive rebound | |||
10:12 | Robin Lopez shooting foul (Joel Embiid draws the foul) | |||
10:12 | +1 | Joel Embiid makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 32-28 | |
10:12 | +1 | Joel Embiid makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 32-29 | |
10:01 | Davis Bertans misses three point jump shot | |||
9:57 | Joel Embiid defensive rebound | |||
9:43 | +2 | Joel Embiid makes two point turnaround hook shot | 32-31 | |
9:43 | Robin Lopez shooting foul (Joel Embiid draws the foul) | |||
9:43 | +1 | Joel Embiid makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 32-32 | |
9:29 | Russell Westbrook misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
9:26 | Joel Embiid defensive rebound | |||
9:23 | +2 | George Hill makes two point finger roll layup (Ben Simmons assists) | 32-34 | |
9:23 | Wizards 60 second timeout | |||
9:06 |