Lehigh Times

Two days after executing a blockbuster trade with the Brooklyn Nets, the Philadelphia 76ers cruised to a 103-93 home victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

ESPN reported that All-Star center Joel Embiid compiled a triple-double – 40 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists – for the 76ers, who had just acquired former NBA MVP James Harden and veteran forward Paul Millsap from the Nets at the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 10.

Embiid’s stellar effort didn’t come as a shock to second-year guard Tyrese Maxey.

“I’m not even surprised at this point,” Maxey said in a postgame press conference the team uploaded to YouTube. “He’s remarkable . . . he loves the game of basketball.”

According to ESPN, Maxey, a Kentucky product, scored 16 points.

The network additionally reported that Embiid has played 31 straight games in which he finished the contest with at least 25 points.

As of Feb. 13, Philadelphia was undefeated since exchanging disgruntled star Ben Simmons with the Nets for Harden.

The 76ers also sent Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, and two first-round picks to Brooklyn.

NBA.com reported that Darius Garland led his hometown Cavaliers with 27 points.

Garland, who was selected to his first NBA All-Star Game, had just returned from a back injury.

Though Harden is now a member of the 76ers, he won’t suit up right away as he deals with a hamstring injury.

He came to the City of Brotherly Love after months of speculation that he wasn’t happy in the Big Apple, where he had a short reunion with former Oklahoma City Thunder teammate Kevin Durant.

Along with another trade in a year’s span, the 6-foot-5 two-guard also experiences a reunion, this time with 76ers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey and CEO Tad Brown.

 Morey and Brown were members of the Houston Rockets front office during Harden’s nine-year tenure with the team.