Nets, 76ers meet after Simmons-Harden swap

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Ben Simmons will be on the bench, boos raining down from all corners of his old home.

James Harden and Kyrie Irving will go head-to-head on the court, their explosive partnership having flamed out in just 13 months.

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A month after Harden and Simmons were swapped in a blockbuster NBA trade, Brooklyn visits Philadelphia on Thursday in what’s more than just perhaps the most-hyped game of the stretch run.

This one is personal.

"It’s going to be loud," Nets All-Star Kevin Durant said. "I’m sure Philly fans and people watching the game and media think this is somewhat of a budding rivalry. So I imagine it’s going to feel that way."

When these teams were last on the court together, Durant and Joel Embiid received taunting technical fouls in the final moments before Embiid waved the Nets off their home floor after the 76ers’ Dec. 30 victory.

Things could be even testier now.

Trade deadline day was breakup day in Philadelphia and Brooklyn, with Simmons and Harden getting their wishes to part ways with their teams when they were exchanged in a Feb. 10 deal. Simmons said the 76ers were aware of his desire to leave well before the end of last season. It's unclear exactly when Harden soured on the Nets after only joining them in January 2021.

Nevertheless, Durant and Irving say they don't hold it against him — though it was only hours later that Durant refused to pick Harden during the All-Star draft, leaving him to LeBron James with the last pick.

Durant said he understands if Harden, seeing Durant sidelined with a knee injury and Irving ineligible to play in home games because he isn't vaccinated