PHILADELPHIA — Ben Simmons didn’t get in the game, but the other players the Nets acquired from the Sixers last month in the James Harden blockbuster helped them to a statement victory. 

Seth Curry’s 24 points represented his highest scoring total in 11 games with the Nets, and he added five steals to Brooklyn’s 29-point statement win against his former team. 

“It’s a big-time game, everyone was saying all week, all day, that this wasn’t a regular-season game, for both teams,” Curry said. “They came out with that energy, Joel [Embiid] had that look in his eye and wanted to dominate. You could see it. 

“We just matched the intensity. We came in, it was a good test for us to see where we are as a team, to see who we are as a team. You don’t really gain confidence until you do it in an environment like this. This was a good step for us.” 

Said Nets coach Steve Nash: “You could tell that he was really up for the game and up for the environment in returning to [face] his old team.” 

Another component of the trade, center Andre Drummond, contributed to a key defensive effort in limiting Embiid to 5-for-17 shooting night with seven points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots. 

Both Curry and Drummond received warm ovations when the starting lineups were announced before the game. 

Sixers coach Doc Rivers believes an actual bloodthirsty playoff series or more against the Nets is the only way to establish a true rivalry between the teams. 

“I don’t know what a rivalry is,” Rivers said before the game. “Honestly. I just don’t know. I know the Red Sox and the Yankees. That’s a rivalry. Duke-North Carolina? I’m positive that’s a rivalry. Philadelphia-Boston from years ago. That’s a rivalry. … This? I think let’s make it one. 

Nash agreed, saying, “I think usually there’s got to be some sort of history, playoff series, predominantly. It’s not really my expertise to define what a rivalry is but hopefully we can develop one. It would be great. It would be great to play meaningful games more often.” 

Reserve forwards James Johnson (five) and Nic Claxton (three) combined to record more than half of the Nets’ 15 blocked shots. … LaMarcus Aldridge missed the game due to a right hip impingement. Danny Green was out for Philly with a lacerated finger.