PHILADELPHIA — The familiar blue backdrop, the one with “Playoffs” printed repeatedly in all caps, is back behind the podium. But with all the pressure expected to pack this Sixers postseason, Joel Embiid, James Harden and Philadelphia’s cast of outside shooters seemed to feel anything but tension throughout a wire-to-wire, 121-101 victory over the Brooklyn Nets in Game 1 of their first-round series Saturday. Connecting on 21-of-43 attempts from beyond the arc — a franchise playoff record — can certainly suppress the weight of mounting expectations.
Embiid stood patiently as Brooklyn sent second defender after second defender in his direction.