76ers sweep the Nets to advanced the 2nd round

Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images

By Shawn Stewart

The Sixers have swept the Brooklyn Nets out of the first round of the NBA playoffs with a 96-88 win Saturday afternoon.

Since Joel Embiid did not play because of a suffered sprained right knee in Game 3, Tobias Harris led the way with 25 points and 12 rebounds.

Paul Reed put up a double-double in the absence of Embiid with 10 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. And James Harden finished with 17 points ,11 assists and eight rebounds on 4 of 18 shooting.

Tyrese Maxey finished a strong series with 16 points and Paul Reed added 10 points and 15 rebounds after replacing Embiid in the starting lineup.

Spencer Dinwiddie scored 20 points and Nic Claxton had 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Nets, who were swept for the second straight year and have lost 10 straight postseason games. They went 0-8 this season against the 76ers.

76ers, will wait for the winner of the series between the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks. The defending Eastern Conference champion Celtics have a 2-1 lead.

You can follow Shawn Stewart on Twitter @S4AStewart and Instagram @S4AStewart