{"id":18889,"date":"2023-05-02T18:29:14","date_gmt":"2023-05-02T18:29:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nbanewsinsider.com\/?p=18889"},"modified":"2023-05-02T18:29:14","modified_gmt":"2023-05-02T18:29:14","slug":"james-harden-scores-45-to-beat-the-celtics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nbanewsinsider.com\/james-harden-scores-45-to-beat-the-celtics\/","title":{"rendered":"James Harden Scores 45 to Beat the Celtics"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The last time James Harden scored 45 points in a playoff game, it was 2015. His Houston Rockets, down three games to none in the Western Conference finals, were winning a home game for pride against the soon to be champion Golden State Warriors.<\/p>\n
On Monday night, Harden matched that career playoff high in a much more significant game.<\/p>\n
With the Philadelphia 76ers\u2019 star and N.B.A. scoring champion, Joel Embiid, out with a knee sprain, Harden scored 45 again, and gave the Sixers an unexpected one-game-to-none lead over the top-seeded Celtics, 119-115, at TD Garden in Boston.<\/p>\n
Points 43, 44 and 45 were the biggest, coming on a bloodless 3-pointer while closely guarded by Al Horford to give the 76ers a 117-115 lead with just over eight seconds left. On the next play, Marcus Smart of the Celtics threw the ball away in traffic under the basket, and two free throws wrapped it up for Philadelphia.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was wondering if they were going to put two on the ball,\u201d Harden said of the possibility of a double-team on the go-ahead shot. \u201cIt was a one on one. So then I\u2019m looking up, I\u2019m just, all right, this is what I work on every day. Get the best available shot no matter what it is. Raise up and shoot it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Harden made 17 baskets on 30 shots, both season highs. He made seven 3-pointers on 14 shots, also both season highs. He also had a team-high six assists.<\/p>\n
From the first possession, Harden, 33, took it upon himself to get Philadelphia points, hitting a 10-foot jumper.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhatever they gave me, I rose up and took a shot,\u201d Harden said after the game. \u201cWhether it\u2019s a 3, whether it\u2019s a floater, whether it\u2019s a midrange jumper.\u201d<\/p>\n