PHILADELPHIA — James Harden hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 18 seconds left in beyond regular time and scored 42 components to help the Philadelphia 76ers stave off a wild Boston Celtics comeback in a 116-115 victory on Sunday that evened their playoff sequence at 2-2.
Marcus Sensible’s potential winner was a tick too late and the Celtics now head dwelling for Tuesday’s Sport 5. The 76ers are assured to return dwelling for Sport 6 on Thursday.
Sensible and Jayson Tatum keyed a Celtics rally from 15 components down with 2 minutes left inside the third quarter in hopes of seizing administration of the sequence.
The Sixers have been on the purpose of defeat fairly just a few events over the final word 17 minutes, none higher than when Joel Embiid crashed into Sensible on a driving, one-handed monetary establishment shot with 1:49 left nevertheless was whistled for an offensive foul. The play was reviewed and the choice stood. Boston saved its 112-111 lead with 1:49 left in OT.
Embiid, the NBA MVP, saved his composure and eventually obtained to the street to sink two free throws with 59 seconds left and the season inside the steadiness.
Embiid had 34 components and 13 rebounds. Harden added 9 assists and eight rebounds.
Tatum struggled to realize early nevertheless accomplished with 24 components, 18 rebounds, six assists and 4 blocks. Jaylen Brown scored 23 components and Sensible had 21.
They went to beyond regular time tied 107-all after Sensible was temporary on a 3 on the horn on one among many few clutch images Boston missed inside the fourth quarter.
Boston’s pleasing began inside the interval when Sensible and Brown buried consecutive 3-pointers and Tatum attacked the rim for a bucket that worn out an eight-point hole in 90 seconds. Al Horford put them ahead 98-90 — on a possession that started on the alternative end when Tyrese Maxey had his shot blocked — and shimmied for the group as boos rained on him.
Sure, the 76ers had dwelling court docket docket nevertheless followers tensed up as recollections all these second-round exits since 2001 stirred contained within the establishing. Sensible and Malcolm Brogdon hit consecutive 3s for a 105-100 lead.
But it surely was P.J. Tucker, the center and guts of the Sixers, who as soon as extra did the dirty work on a defensive rebound a bucket. He made the free throw with 1:05 left and the tie recreation gave them new life.
Good Sport James confirmed up in Sport 4 for the 76ers and Embiid carried out additional similar to the MVP he was inside the frequent season than the banged-up model with a sprained correct knee of the ultimate two video video games.
Harden carried out in Sport 1 like he was nonetheless the MVP in Houston and dropped 45 components to spur the upset freeway victory. Then, his recreation disappeared and he carried out two of the worst video video games of his occupation. Harden’s 5-for-28 combined taking photos in Video games 2 and three was worst effort for him over any two-game span in his occupation — frequent season or playoffs.
The best the 76ers may do ahead of Sport 4 was hope for a productive Harden.
Philly obtained him.
Harden hit all three 3s inside the first half and scored 21 components, 5 higher than his Sport 3 full. Embiid was as potent as he needed to hold out and had 19 components and 11 boards to current the 76ers a 59-50 lead.
Boston suffered this time from a shortage of star vitality. Tatum missed his first eight images sooner than he scored a bucket merely sooner than the half, just one woeful effort in a half the place the Celtics shot 38% from the bottom.
TIP-INS
Celtics: Horford joined Tatum as Celtics with one basket inside the first half. Brown tried to help with a 7-of-11 effort for 16 components.
76ers: Julius Erving was within the house. … Embiid and Harden are the first Sixers teammates with 30 components each in a playoff recreation since Embiid and Seth Curry did it in June 2021 in direction of Atlanta.
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