No Embiid, no worries! Harden equals career-high as all-time Celtics blunder proves costly
Despite the absence of famous person centre Joel Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers have pulled off an almighty shock with a 119-115 victory over the Boston Celtics in Game One of their Eastern Conference semi-finals conflict.
Embiid missed his second-straight sport with a knee harm, leaving James Harden to do the heavy lifting for the Sixers on the TD Garden in Boston.
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Harden stepped as much as the plate after which some, chalking up a staggering 45 factors to tie his career-high for many factors in a playoff sport.
The bearded star shot 17 from 30 with seven three-pointers besides in a blinding show.
Sixers teammates Tyrese Maxey chipped in with 26 factors whereas Paul Reed bagged a double-double due to his 10-point haul and 13 rebounds.
The Celtics had a giant sport from Jayson Tatum who chalked up 39 factors and 11 rebounds, nevertheless it was to not be for the house facet.
Boston raced out to a 38-31 lead within the opening quarter and regardless of a fightback from the Sixers within the second interval, the house facet took a 66-63 lead into halftime.
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Philadelphia continued to chip away at Boston’s lead and finally acquired there because the rating was tied at 87-87 going into the ultimate interval.
It appeared as if neither facet wished to carry the lead within the fourth quarter because the Sixers and Celtics traded the benefit with what appeared like each play.
Harden continued to be a pest from vary whereas the Celtics’ Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown chalked up a number of factors.
The lead continued to alter fingers like a sizzling potato and it appeared a last-gasp blunder from Boston’s Malcolm Brogdon handed the Sixers the sport.
With the ball in hand, Brogdon seemed to go it to a teammate however as a substitute handed it straight to Tyrese Maxey who raced up the opposite finish of the court docket for a simple lay-up.
The Celtics then acquired two factors again on the free-throw line to go away simply over 24 seconds left on the clock.
Harden grabbed the ball and slowly marched his manner up the court docket earlier than sinking a three-pointer with eight seconds left to tie his career-high for many factors in a playoff sport.
It proved to be the killer blow because the Sixers held on for a shocking victory.
