76ers-Wizards takeaways: Tobias Harris’ huge first half propels Philadelphia to Game 1 win over Washington

Nobody mentioned the first-round sequence towards the Washington Wizards was going to be a straightforward one for the Philadelphia 76ers. The Wizards are a crew that has performed significantly better basketball because the All-Star break, and had they not been hit arduous by well being and damage points early within the season, they seemingly would have completed larger within the standings within the Japanese Convention. That was evident on Sunday afternoon, because the No. 8 Wizards gave the top-seeded Sixers all they might deal with within the first sport of the best-of-seven sequence between the groups. 

Regardless of a powerful begin from Philly, the Wizards led by one level heading into halftime, and so they mainly had the Sixers sweating all the way in which till the ultimate buzzer. A crew with two gamers as proficient as Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook will try this to you. Finally, although, the Sixers confirmed why they have been the most effective groups within the league all season as they have been in a position to shut out the sport down the stretch for a 125-118 victory. With the win, the Sixers have been in a position to shield their home-court benefit and take a 1-0 lead within the sequence. 

Tobias Harris led the way in which for the Sixers with a playoff career-high 37 factors. Joel Embiid was hampered by foul hassle within the first half, however he nonetheless completed the sport with 30 factors and 6 rebounds, whereas Ben Simmons added six factors, 15 assists and 15 rebounds. Within the course of, Harris and Embiid grew to become the primary pair of Sixers teammates to every rating 30-plus factors in the identical playoff sport since 1990. 

On the opposite facet of the ground, Beal did his factor for the Wizards. He tallied 33 factors, 10 rebounds and 6 assists whereas capturing 13 of 23 from the ground. Beal wanted a bit extra assist, although. The following highest scoring Wizards participant, Westbrook, had simply 16 factors. Total, the sport was hard-fought and fairly effectively performed, however neither crew has too lengthy to dwell on it now, as they’ll be again at it for Recreation 2 on Wednesday evening. Earlier than looking forward to that one, right here’s a have a look at three key takeaways from Philadelphia’s Recreation 1 win. 

1. Harris put Sixers on his again in first half 

Tobias Harris was closely criticized by Sixers followers and media members alike for his comparatively poor efficiency within the playoffs final season. In 4 playoff video games towards the Celtics within the Orlando bubble, Harris averaged simply 15.8 factors per efficiency whereas capturing 38 p.c from the sphere — numbers that represented a big drop from his regular-season averages. In consequence, his contract was criticized, as was his coronary heart. Clearly, Harris wasn’t going to permit for a repeat efficiency this yr. He got here out assured and centered on Sunday afternoon, and he put Philadelphia on his again over the primary 24 minutes of motion. Thanks to a few early fouls, Embiid was restricted to only 10 minutes of enjoying time within the first half, so the Sixers wanted to search out level manufacturing elsewhere, and Harris answered the decision. With Embiid stationed on the sideline with a towel draped over his head, Harris went to work. 

Heading into Recreation 1, Harris’ playoff career-high was 29 factors. He practically matched that within the first half towards the Wizards. As an alternative, he needed to wait till the second half to set a brand new profession excessive, as he completed the primary half with 28 factors on 12 of 19 capturing from the ground. In that first half, Harris scored in each manner possible — from past the arc, on drives, together with his again to the basket, and within the midrange. The complete arsenal was on show. 

Harris’ manufacturing was large for the Sixers as they might have been down by a lot a couple of on the half if not for his Herculean effort. By conserving the rating shut whereas Embiid was out of the sport, the Sixers have been in a position to put themselves in place to come back again and pull out the win within the second half — which they did. In all, Harris completed the sport with 37 factors whereas capturing over 50 p.c (15 of 29) from the ground. Harris’ play earned the reward of his teammates after the sport, particularly Embiid, who appreciated that Harris was in a position to decide up the slack in his absence. 

“He was large particularly in that point after I was on the bench,” Embiid mentioned of Harris. “We would have liked a scorer, and he confirmed up the entire sport actually, however particularly in that first half … Him conserving us within the sport whereas I used to be on the bench was large.” 

Harris clearly isn’t going to drop 35-plus factors each evening for Philadelphia, however when he’s enjoying with confidence and in assault mode like he was on Sunday, they grow to be an infinitely higher crew. If he can proceed to channel the vitality and focus that he had in Recreation 1, the Sixers shall be robust to topple. 

2. A story of two halves for Seth Curry

Seth Curry had a forgettable first half in Recreation 1. He was unable to attach on a single shot, as he was held scoreless. In actual fact, probably the most notable factor he did in the course of the first 24 minutes was get inadvertently hit under the belt: 

The hit precipitated Curry to exit the sport, and offered Philadelphia followers with a fast scare. Fortunately, Curry was tremendous and in a position to return to motion within the second half, and he seemed like a totally totally different participant. Lastly in a position to shake off the rust that accumulates after over per week and not using a sport, Curry related on six pictures — and three 3s — within the second half, and his level manufacturing was essential for Philadelphia to shut out the sport with a win. He completed the sport with 15 factors and he additionally added 4 rebounds, two steals and an help for good measure. 

Even when Curry isn’t hitting his pictures, he’s a invaluable presence out on the ground for Philadelphia as a result of consideration he attracts, and in flip the area he creates for others. However, as we noticed within the second half on Sunday, they’re far more harmful when he’s searching pictures and knocking them down. Search for him to get off to a bit higher of a begin in Recreation 2 on Wednesday. 

3. Beal obtained his, however that’s not essentially a nasty factor for Philly 

Bradley Beal is likely one of the greatest scorers within the NBA. That’s no secret. He completed second to Stephen Curry in scoring this season, and he has lit the Sixers up loads prior to now. With this in thoughts, Sixers coach Doc Rivers determined to make use of his two greatest perimeter defenders — Ben Simmons and Matisse Thybulle — on Beal over the course of the competition. You wouldn’t understand it by trying on the last stat sheet, however Simmons and Thybulle truly did an honest job on Beal. They didn’t give him open appears. They made him work for his pictures and so they compelled him into committing a game-high six turnovers. However Beal, being the scorer that he’s, nonetheless obtained his as he completed the sport with 33 factors on 13 of 23 capturing. 

Certain, the Sixers will attempt to make issues much more tough on Beal transferring ahead within the sequence, however right here’s the factor: Beal placing up factors doesn’t essentially correlate to wins for Washington. Earlier this season, Beal grew to become the primary participant in NBA historical past to lose 10 straight video games through which he scored 40 or extra factors. A sport towards the Sixers from earlier this season is a wonderful instance of this. On Jan. 6, Beal dropped a profession excessive 60 factors on the Sixers, however the Wizards nonetheless misplaced that sport 141-136. The truth that Beal can rating a lot with out successful can clearly be checked out as an indictment of his supporting forged, and it’s additionally one thing that the Sixers can discover some solace in. Beal goes to place up factors no matter who’s on him, however usually, him merely scoring lots isn’t sufficient for Washington to win, and that was the case in Recreation 1.