James Harden’s 42 points and last-ditch, go-ahead triple has willed the 76ers to a 117-116 overtime win over the Celtics in Game 4 in Philadelphia to tie the series at two-apiece heading back to Boston.
Harden finished the night with 42 points, eight rebounds, nine assists and four steals on 16-of-23 from the field and 6-of-9 from three in one of the most outstanding playoff games of his Hall of Fame career.
He joins Wilt Chamberlain, Allen Iverson, and Julius Erving – who was in attendance for Game 4 – as the only players in 76ers franchise history with 40+ points, 5+ rebounds, and 5+ assists in a playoff game.
His biggest moment, however, came with 19 seconds remaining in overtime when he stepped up and knocked down a corner three after the defence collapsed in on Joel Embiid to give the 76ers a one-point lead.
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The shot went awfully close to proving in vain with Boston’s Marcus Smart hitting a three down the other end as time expired only for replay reviews to show that it was released after the buzzer sounded, sending the raucous, Philadelphia crowd into delirium.
Al Horford and co. made life tough for Embiid offensively throughout the second half and overtime but the 29-year-old still managed to finish with 34 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists on 11-of-26 shooting.
Tyrese Maxey had a tough night shooting finishing with 14 points on 6-of-17 shooting whilst Tobias Harris also had his struggles on that end finishing with nine points on 3-of-10 from the field but finished a game-high +14 and came up with several key, hustle plays late in the contest.
Georges Niang made a trio of threes off the bench whilst P.J. Tucker was his usual, doggish self and pulled off a sensational and-one off a late, offensive rebound which proved pivotal in forcing overtime.
Philadelphia played from in front for a majority of the game; they took a nine-point lead into half-time which ballooned out to 16 mid-way through the third.
An extended, 29-13 Boston run, however, saw them tie it entering the home stretch before the Celtics opened up a five-point lead with less than two minutes to play in regulation.
A Harden layup and Tucker three-point play tied it again for Philadelphia before Smart made two late free throws to put Boston ahead.
Another clutch, Harden make tied it with 16 seconds left before Smart missed a potential, walk-off three as time expired.
The teams traded buckets in overtime before a frenetic, final sequence saw Philadelphia come away with an enormous win.
Boston shot better percentages from the field and from three whilst their interior defence tightened the screws to finish with a dozen blocked shots.
Horford did a phenomenal job defensively on Embiid late in the game holding the MVP to just six points on 2-of-8 shooting in the fourth quarter and overtime.
Jayson Tatum finished with 24 points, 18 rebounds, six assists and four blocks whilst Jaylen Brown added 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting.
Horford stuffed the stat-sheet with 10 points, seven rebounds, four assists, five blocks and a pair of steals whilst Marcus Smart added 21 points and seven assists.
Sixth Man of the Year winner Malcolm Brogdon finished with 19 points and eight rebounds on 5-of-8 from three off the bench whilst Derrick White had 12 points on 2-of-4 from three.
The series now shifts back to Boston for a decisive Game 5 on Wednesday.
