Tiktuknu: clip summarizing today's events in sports, 7.5 (Sport1)
The NBA playoffs continue tonight and tonight with two games: in the first meeting, Philadelphia enjoyed a performance by Embiid and Harden, beat Boston at home and tied the series at 2:2.
Later tonight, Phoenix will host Denver and will also try to equalize to 2:2.
This is what MVP looks like.
Embiid vs. Horford (Photo: Reuters)
Philadelphia - Boston 115:116 (2:2 in the series)
In the opening of the second round series against Boston, James Harden provided one of the best playoff games of his career.
Without Joel Embiid, the old man raining 45 points on Boston's head, stole home advantage from the Celtics and looked again like the MVP he was.
But since Embiid returned, Harden collapsed.
In Game 2 he finished with 14 points on 2-of-14 from the field and in Game 3 he finished with 16 points on 3-of-14 from the field.
Overall, 5 of 28 in the last pair of games - his worst stat throughout his career.
But this evening Harden appeared, and how he appeared and carried Philadelphia to a difficult and nerve-wracking victory, on the way to 2:2 in the series.
Harden, who starred throughout this game, also took command in the fourth quarter when Embiid disappeared and won this game with a huge 3-pointer with 19 seconds left in overtime.
Harden finished this game with 42 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists as well as 4 steals.
Embiid scored 34 points and 13 rebounds, but was held to 2 points in the fourth quarter and cleared the stage for the beard in money time.
On the other hand, Jayson Tatum, who scored only 2 points in the first half, swept Boston into a temporary turnaround and finished with 24 points, 18 rebounds and 4 blocks that were not enough.
Jaylen Brown added 23 for Boston, but the one who starred alongside Tatum in the second half was Al Horford who contributed only 10 points, but also 5 blocks, all on Embiid with a great defense against him in Money Time.
The series will now return to Boston and after already stealing one game without Embiid, Philadelphia can certainly do it again with their center.
Are we headed for a 7 game streak?
With basketball like this, we hope so.
Harden and Embiid took command of the first quarter and gave Philadelphia a 50:59 advantage at halftime.
The old man finished the half with only 21 points and 5 assists, the freshman MVP added 19 points and 11 rebounds.
On the other hand, Tatum couldn't find himself and finished the first quarter without points, with Jaylen Brown trying to take over the game.
A 3-pointer by Tobias Harris towards the end of the third quarter gave the Phillies a 75:90 lead, but that's when the hosts got stuck.
Maxi finished the third quarter with a basket that gave an 83:93 advantage.
Harden returned to start the fourth quarter, but Philadelphia went 2 minutes without a basket and Derrick White cut the deficit to just seven.
Doc Rivers called a timeout, but Tobias Harris lost and Tatum shrunk to just 92:86 from the line.
Philadelphia's drought was interrupted with Harden's floater, who caught Brogdon and found Embiid, who again gave the hosts a margin of safety and made it 88:96.
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Exploded like in the first game.
Harden (Photo: GettyImages)
finished?
Really really not.
Boston took a timeout and came back from it with an 0:8 run with two triples by Smart and Tatum, which tied the score at 96 with 5:25 minutes left in the game.
Philadelphia was completely stuck, Tatum blocked Maxey and Horford scored an amazing 96:98 for the visitors who completed a 0:10 run.
Harden drew a foul and stopped Philadelphia's run from the line, but Tatum drew a foul on the other side and scored one from the line.
Horford blocked Embiid and then Smart's 3-pointer gave Boston a 98:102 lead.
Harden withstood the pressure with a hard basket, but Brogdon hit another 3-pointer and Boston led 100:105 with 2 minutes left.
Harden who took over the game scored a hard basket and Philly stopped Boston on defense.
Embiid again got stuck in front of Horford, but Tucker took an offensive rebound and with a basket and a foul tied the game at 105 with a minute left.
Boston went on a critical attack where Tucker committed an unnecessary foul on Smart, who scored 105:107 from the line.
Philadelphia went on a last attack and again went for Embiid, who was again blocked by Horford, but Maxi took control of the rebound and J
Maxey restored the lead to Philadelphia at the start of overtime, but Tatum penetrated and Smart made it 109-112 from the line.
Embiid missed again, but took an offensive rebound and broke his long drought to make it 112:111.
Boston again went for Tatum who missed a three-pointer, Harden stole to Smart and Embiid was sure he was returning the advantage to Philadelphia, but the referees gave him an attacking foul.
Horford and Harden missed three-pointers, but Embiid drew a foul in the fight for the rebound and made it 112:113 for Philadelphia from the line with 56 seconds left.
Jayson Tatum took charge and after five fouls from beyond the arc, he nailed a 3-pointer over Maxey's head with 38 seconds left.
Boston brought help on Embiid who found Harden, who hit a huge 3-pointer with 19 seconds left.
Boston had one last attack left, the ball went to Smart who scored a three-pointer after the legal time and in the end: 115:116 crazy for Philadelphia who tied the series 2:2, wow.
sport
NBA
Tags
Philadelphia Sixers
Boston Celtics
Denver Nuggets
Phoenix Suns