Boston Can’t Stop Harden
By Richard Jean
PHILADELPHIA – James Harden scored a game-high 42 points, including the two-point floater to force extra time with 16.1 seconds left in regulation and the go-ahead three-pointer with 18 seconds left in overtime, and the Philadelphia 76ers survived a ferocious rally from the Boston Celtics, winning 116-115 in game four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals to tie the series 2-2 on Sunday, May 7.
Harden scored half of his total points, NBA-MVP Joel Embiid scored 19 of his 34 total points and Philadelphia shot 47.9% from the floor, all in the first half, to build a 9-point lead at half. In the third, Philadelphia led by as many as 16, but Boston kept the contest close shooting 72.2% from the floor and their all-star, Jayson Tatum, scoring 13 points. Tatum ended the night with a team-high 24 points, along with a game-high 18 rebounds, despite being held to 2 points in the first half.
In the fourth, Boston outscored Philadelphia 24-15, taking a 107-105 lead with 51.1 seconds left in regulation following two free throws by Marcus Smart before Harden’s game-tying 12-foot driving floater. Smart finished with 21 points. In overtime, Smart’s potential game-winner, following Harden’s heroic three-point jumper, occurred after the final buzzer, guaranteeing a game six in Philly on Thursday.
Tyrese Maxey contributed with 14 points and grabbed 8 rebounds for the 76ers in the win. PJ Tucker didn’t light up the stat sheet for the 76ers, finishing the night with just 6 points, but was a galvanizing force for Philadelphia with his heart and hustle. Tucker had a huge put-back layup and free throw to tie the game at 105 with 65 seconds left in regulation.
Jaylen Brown, who scored the team’s first ten points, and Malcolm Brogdon, coming off the bench, scored 23 and 19 points, respectively, for the Celtics in the loss.
Postgame, Harden emphasized “today was do-or-die for us.” The game had an uplifting ending as Harden signed his shoes and gifted them to John Hao, a survivor of the Michigan State mass shooting in February that Harden has developed a friendship with and invited him to the game. Game five was played Tuesday night in Boston.
