Ne Ben Simmons, no Joel Embiid...no problem.
Tobias Harris picked up the slack for the 76ers to lead them to a 115-106 win over the New York Knicks, improving to a league-best 28-2 in thier own building and 37-23 on the season.
Best 30-game home starts in @sixers history:
— Sixers Stats (@SixersStats) February 28, 2020
1949-50 29-1
2019-20 28-2
1982-83 28-2
1980-81 28-2
1966-67 28-2
1952-53 28-2
h/t @EliasSports
Embiid is currently sidelined with a left shoulder sprain, while Ben Simmons is set to be re-evaluated in two weeks, hampered by a lower back impingement.
In their absence, Harris tied his season-high with 34 points on an efficient 14-of-21 from the field and 3-of-6 from the three-point line, adding, seven rebounds, and seven assists.
The 27-year-old got off to a hot start, scoring 14 of the 76ers' 26 first-quarter points and had 23 in the first half, toying with the Knicks' smaller defenders, who couldn't find an answer for him on the defensive end.
Al Horford enjoyed a productive outing with 15 points on 4-of-4 shooting from deep, adding nine assists and seven rebounds as the veteran duo asserted themselves against their younger opponents.
With Simmons under an injury cloud for the coming weeks, 76ers head coach Brett Brown continues to search for a presence at point guard, with Shake Milton impressing in the starting role. He recorded 19 points, four assists and just one turnover, having an effective night shooting the ball as he connected on all five of his three-point attempts.
After the 76ers took a comfortable 61-46 lead into the half, the Knicks mounted a mini-comeback behind the newly-acquired Mo Harkless.
After going scoreless in the first half, he scored 15 of his 17 points in the period.
As the Knicks continued to press in the fourth, cutting the lead down to five points with 2:08 remaining thanks to a pair of free throws from Julius Randle, Harris and Milton buried back-to-back triples to ice the game for Philly.
What's Shakin'? pic.twitter.com/UzIo0zmUXQ
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) February 28, 2020
"It's a good win for us, we needed it with guys down," Harris said post-game.
"Obviously we're losing two of our All-Stars, but at the same time it's just come in and do whatever I can for us to win. Obviously tonight I had it going from the beginning and at the end of the fourth quarter, just looked to take the game over and seal the victory."
The Knicks, who have now lost six games in a row were led by 30 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists from Randle, while Elfrid Payton added 18 points, 12 asists, and six rebounds.
Point guard Dennis Smith Jr. exited the game in the second quarter with concussion-like symptoms after an inadvertant elbow to the head.
