James Harden has matched his NBA playoff profession excessive with 45 factors and hit a go-ahead, step-back three-pointer over Al Horford with 8.7 seconds left as Philadelphia beat hosts Boston 119-115 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semi-final matchup.
Tyrese Maxey added 26 factors at TD Garden on Monday night time, Tobias Harris completed with 18 and Paul Reed registered 10 factors and 13 rebounds for the Sixers, who made 17 triples within the absence of MVP finalist Joel Embiid.
Embiid, who led the NBA by averaging 33.1 factors per recreation in the course of the common season, sat out with the sprained proper knee he sustained in Game 3 of the 76ers’ first-round sequence towards Brooklyn.
Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 39 factors and 11 rebounds, whereas Jaylen Brown added 23 factors and Malcolm Brogdon completed with 20.
Boston host Game 2 on Wednesday night time.
Harden beforehand scored 45 factors for the Houston Rockets in a Western Conference Finals win over Golden State on May 25, 2015.
He made 17 of his 30 field-goal makes an attempt, together with 7-of-14 from behind the three-point arc. It was the tenth playoff recreation wherein Harden has scored no less than 40 factors.
Trailing 117-115, the Celtics had one remaining likelihood and acquired the ball to Tatum, however he fumbled it to Reed, who was fouled and hit a pair of game-sealing free throws.
Reed took Embiid’s place within the beginning lineup, like he did with Embiid out for the ultimate recreation of the Nets sequence. As anticipated, Embiid’s absence within the center contributed to a sooner tempo.
Both groups used it to their benefit.
The Celtics attacked the paint, connecting on 13 of their first 14 pictures. The 76ers made eight of their first 10 makes an attempt, spacing the ground nicely and spreading out Boston’s defence.
Harden led the assault early for Philadelphia, hitting his first 5 makes an attempt. Brown began 6-for-6 from the sector for a Boston crew that thrived with out Embiid defending the rim, occurring an 11-0 run at one level.
Boston shot 74 per cent for the half however took solely a 66-63 lead into halftime after the 76ers went 11-for-19 from the three-point line.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
