Joel Embiid had 37 points and made a season-high 23 free throws in the NBA. James Harden scored 29 points, 16 assists, and 10 rebounds. The Philadelphia 76ers won their second straight game with their new duo, beating the New York Knicks 125 to 109 on Sunday.
The 76ers were able to make 39 free throws, the most this season in the NBA. They also used the line almost all of their efforts to win a tight game midway through the fourth quarter. Embiid made 23 of 27 free throws, and the NBA’s top scorer added nine rebounds.
The 76ers won this one better after Harden’s impressive performance Friday against Minnesota, a win of 133 to102. In the fourth it was tied at 100, but Philadelphia won by scoring 10 of its next twelve at the line. Embiid had six free throws and Harden had four. The only basket for the 76ers during that stretch was when Harden fed Embiid at the fast break.
Harden had five more steals, and was second in assists for the season.
RJ Barrett and Evan Fournier scored 24 points each for the Knicks. They’ve lost five straight games and nine of 10.
JAZZ 118 and SUNS 114
PHOENIX, AZ (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 26 and Rudy Gobert added 16 and 14 points. Utah won the game.
Utah won eight of its nine previous games, improving to 38-22. Phoenix, which has the NBA’s best record at 49-12, has lost its last two games.
Jordan Clarkson scored 22 points, shooting 10-of-17 — part of the Utah 2nd unit that performed well and outscored Phoenix’s bench by 43-11
Devin Booker was the Phoenix point guard with 30 points. Cameron Johnson and DeandreAyton added 23 points each. Phoenix had the chance to tie the game in the final seconds but Jae Crowder fouled the ball.
Phoenix has not played Chris Paul, its All-Star point guard, in the past three games. He broke his thumb Feb. 16 and may be out for the remainder of the regular season.
