Author: Tom Moore, Bucks County Courier Times

Big games by the Philadelphia 76ers’ James Harden and Joel Embiid have turned this into a best-of-three NBA playoff series vs. the Miami Heat.

Joel Embiid’s return to the playoffs put the 76ers right back in their Eastern Conference semifinal against the top-seeded Heat.

Three days before opening the second round, Joel Embiid was diagnosed with an orbital fracture, leaving his status uncertain.

The Philadelpia 76ers aren’t finishing the NBA regular season exactly how they’d like, despite halting a three-game losing streak on Saturday.

James Harden had 26 points, nine assists and nine rebounds as the Sixers used a big second half to top the Knicks and move to 3-0 with Harden.

James Harden didn’t disappoint in his first game for Philadelphia, finishing with 27 points and 12 assists in a 133-102 road win over Minnesota.

Can James Harden help the Sixers win their first title since 1983 while also finding a new place to call home?

Doc Rivers responded after an ESPN report cited Ben Simmons’ apparent frustrations with the coach and the Sixers organization.

Joel Embiid was back after missing nine games with COVID-19 that he said resulted in trouble breathing and “headaches worse than a migraine.”

The Sixers’ Ben Simmons still hasn’t participated in 5-on-5 scrimmaging with his teammates, so it might be a while.