James Harden makes winning 3 in OT, 76ers tie series with Celtics

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — James Harden hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 18seconds left in overtime and scored 42 points to help thePhiladelphia 76ers stave off a wild Boston Celtics comeback in a116-115 victory on Sunday that evened their playoff series at2-2.

MarcusSmart’s potential winner was a tick too late and the Celtics nowhead home for Tuesday’s Game 5. The 76ers are guaranteed to returnhome for Game 6 on Thursday.

Smart andJayson Tatum keyed a Celtics rally from 15 points down with 2minutes left in the third quarter in hopes of seizing control ofthe series.

The Sixerswere on the brink of defeat numerous times over the final 17minutes, none more than when Joel Embiid crashed into Smart on adriving, one-handed bank shot with 1:49 left but was whistled foran offensive foul. The play was reviewed and the call stood. Bostonkept its 112-111 lead with 1:49 left in OT.

Embiid, theNBA MVP, kept his composure and eventually got to the line to sinktwo free throws with 59 seconds left and the season in thebalance.

Embiid had34 points and 13 rebounds. Harden added nine assists and eightrebounds.

Tatumstruggled to score early but finished with 24 points, 18 rebounds,six assists and four blocks. Jaylen Brown scored 23 points andSmart had 21.

They wentto overtime tied 107-all after Smart was short on a 3 at the hornon one of the few clutch shots Boston missed in the fourthquarter.

Boston’sfun began in the period when Smart and Brown buried consecutive3-pointers and Tatum attacked the rim for a bucket that wiped outan eight-point hole in 90 seconds. Al Horford put them ahead 98-90— on a possession that started on the other end when Tyrese Maxeyhad his shot blocked — and shimmied for the crowd as boos rained onhim.

Yes, the76ers had home court but fans tensed up as memories all thosesecond-round exits since 2001 stirred inside the building. Smartand Malcolm Brogdon hit consecutive 3s for a 105-100 lead.

But it wasP.J. Tucker, the heart and guts of the Sixers, who again did thedirty work on a defensive rebound a bucket. He made the free throwwith 1:05 left and the tie game gave them new life.

Good GameJames showed up in Game 4 for the 76ers and Embiid played more likethe MVP he was in the regular season than the banged-up editionwith a sprained right knee of the last two games.

Hardenplayed in Game 1 like he was still the MVP in Houston and dropped45 points to spur the upset road victory. Then, his gamedisappeared and he played two of the worst games of his career.Harden’s 5-for-28 combined shooting in Games 2 and 3 was worsteffort for him over any two-game span in his career — regularseason or playoffs.

The bestthe 76ers could do ahead of Game 4 was hope for a productiveHarden.

Philly gothim.

Harden hitall three 3s in the first half and scored 21 points, five more thanhis Game 3 total. Embiid was as potent as he needed to perform andhad 19 points and 11 boards to give the 76ers a 59-50 lead.

Bostonsuffered this time from a lack of star power. Tatum missed hisfirst eight shots before he scored a bucket just before the half,just one woeful effort in a half where the Celtics shot 38% fromthe floor.

TIP-INS

Celtics:Horford joined Tatum as Celtics with one basket in the first half.Brown tried to help with a 7-of-11 effort for 16 points.

76ers:Julius Erving was in the house. ... Embiid and Harden are the firstSixers teammates with 30 points each in a playoff game since Embiidand Seth Curry did it in June 2021 against Atlanta.