Harden sidelined with left foot soreness in Sixers win over Timberwolves
James Harden is averaging 21.9 points, 10.8 assists and 6.3 rebounds.
James Harden missed the 76ers’ game Tuesday in Minnesota due to left foot soreness. However, his absence didn’t keep Philadelphia from rolling to a 117-94 win on the road.
Joel Embiid scored 39 points and Tyrese Maxey added 27 to fill the void as Harden rested. Embiid made up for Harden’s absence, scoring 22 points in the third quarter as Philadelphia pulled away and wrapped up its five-game road trip with a 4-1 mark.
“I take pride every single time I step on the floor, no matter who’s guarding, I feel like I’m unguardable,” Embiid said. “I want to show them that it’s not that easy to guard me.”
Harden played 39:32 and had 14 points and 20 assists in a win a night earlier in Indiana. The 33-year-old guard is averaging 21.9 points and a league-high 10.8 assists in 48 games for Philadelphia this season.
Game Recap: 76ers 117, Timberwolves 94
A tendon strain in his right foot caused Harden to miss 14 games earlier this season, but he had played in 39 of the past 41 games.
Finishing the road trip with three straight wins, Philadelphia has 19 road wins this season (which is fourth in the league) and is 19-12 overall on the road in 2022-23. After two upcoming home games, they have seven of eight on the road.
“We’re road warriors,” Maxey said. “We always pack our attitude, pack our defense and pack our will on the road. It’s good for us. We know we can do it at home with Wells Fargo (Center) behind us and South Philly behind us, but you got to be able to win road games in the playoffs.”
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
