Joel Embiid has 43 points, 14 rebounds; 76ers thump Bulls

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Joel Embiid had 43 points and 14 rebounds, and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Chicago Bulls 121-106 Monday night in a showdown between two of the Eastern Conference’s top teams headed in opposite directions.

James Harden added 16 points and 14 assists, and Tyrese Maxey added 17 points for the 76ers, who have won six of seven and stayed perfect with Harden in the lineup.

The 76ers improved to 5-0 with Harden since the blockbuster deal at the trade deadline that sent Ben Simmons to the Nets in exchange for the 2017-18 MVP. Harden sat out Philadelphia’s 99-82 loss at Miami on Saturday to rest his hamstring.

"It’s fun," Embiid said. "He just makes the game easy for everybody."

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Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid reacts after making a basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Monday, March 7, 2022, in Philadelphia.  (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Harden is averaging 24.6 points, 12.4 assists and 7.4 rebounds as a member of the 76ers.

"Like a dream come true," said Georges Niang, who scored 14 points and hit four 3-pointers, three of which Harden assisted.

Harden set up 76ers for open shots and driving dunks, like Embiid’s slam with 6:31 left in the third and Matisse Thybulle’s jam with 1:51 to play.

"He’s teaching me on the fly," Thybulle said.

Embiid, the league’s leading scorer, made 15 of 27 field goals and 12 of 16 free throws.

"Joel had it going the whole night, which obviously makes the game a little easier for everybody," Harden said.

The MVP frontrunner scored at least 40 points for the 10th time this season while upping his season average to 29.7 points per