Harden opens Round 1 with 'perfect game,' as Sixers top Nets

PHILADELPHIA — A year ago, James Harden entered the playoffs with the Philadelphia 76ers having played 21 games with his new team, still acclimating to a new environment after arriving here via a blockbuster midseason trade.

On Saturday afternoon, Harden and the 76ers opened up this year's playoffs against Harden's old team, the Brooklyn Nets, and couldn't have looked more comfortable, finishing with 23 points and 13 assists in 36 minutes in what became a 121-101 Philadelphia win to begin what the 76ers hope will be an extended run through this year's playoffs.

«I thought that was one of his best games as a 'catcher,'» 76ers coach Doc Rivers said. «I thought he called a perfect game.»

The Nets, facing a significant talent disadvantage in this series after the midseason trades in February that sent Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to Phoenix and Dallas, respectively, made it clear that their game plan was to do whatever they could to keep the ball out of Joel Embiid's hands, and force Philadelphia's other players to make plays — and, specifically, make shots.

«I mean, he's the MVP,» Harden said of Embiid. «So it's like, would you rather him score 40, or live with us making shots? Either way, it's fine. We'll be ready either way.»

At least Saturday, both Harden and his 76ers teammates made plenty of them.

Philadelphia shot a staggering 21-for-43 from 3-point range, including hitting 15 uncontested 3-point shots, according to ESPN's Stats & Information research, its most in any postseason game since ESPN began tracking them in the 2013-14 playoffs. In addition, Philadelphia shot 68% of passes in this game — the franchise's second-highest percentage in a playoff game since ESPN began tracking that stat in 2014-15.

Rivers