With a decisive triple of James Harden in the extension, the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Boston Celtics 116-115 this Sunday and tied this semifinal of the Eastern Conference of the NBA.
Harden signed a display of 42 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists that prevented the Sixers from losing for the second time in a row in front of their fans and seeing themselves down 3-1 that would have practically condemned them to elimination.
The Sixers celebrated with relief after blowing leads of up to 16 points.
In a harrowing end of overtime, Harden nailed a corner 3-pointer with 18 seconds left to put the Sixers ahead for good.
The Celtics had one last possession and Marcus Smart hit another 3-pointer that would have given them the win, but the shooting guard was already out of time.
“I just wanted to achieve victory. Tonight was do or die”said Harden, the first Sixers player with two games of at least 40 points in the playoffs since Allen Iverson in 2003.
“We found a way to win and that’s the only thing that matters in the playoffs,” stressed.
‘La Barba’, three times the NBA’s leading scorer, had scored 45 points in Philadelphia’s victory in the opening game against Boston but then barely added a total of 28 points in the following two losses.
On Sunday, Harden regained his aim in time to power a Sixers that had only two more double-digit scoring players.
Cameroonian Joel Embiid, brand new NBA MVP, finished with 34 points and 13 rebounds and guard Tyrese Maxey with 14 goals.
For the Celtics, Jayson Tatum recorded 24 points and 18 rebounds, recovering from a disastrous first quarter that closed with 0 points after five missed shots.
The Dominican Al Horford, with 10 points, 7 rebounds and 5 blocks, was key to the comeback of the NBA runners-up, who were two points up (105-107) with only 51 seconds left.
In the next action Horford put a superb block on Embiid, but Harden sent the game into overtime with a jump shot.
The locals were again on the ropes when Tatum, after a possible attacking foul on Maxey, scored a three-pointer that put Boston ahead 113-115 with 38 seconds remaining.
Then the Sixers turned again to Harden, who received an assist from Embiid in the corner and, taking advantage of the fact that his defender was in a double tag on the Cameroonian, nailed the game-winning triple for Philadelphia.
The series will return to Boston on Tuesday for Game 5.
The playoff day on Sunday was completed with the fourth chapter of the series between the Phoenix Suns and the Denver Nuggets, who lead the latter 2-1.
FUENTE: AFP
2023-05-08 07:56:45
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