NBA: Harden in flavor, the Sixers equalize against Boston

Philadelphia, thanks to James Harden, author of 42 points and decisive in the final moments, beat Boston (116-115 after overtime) to tie with two wins everywhere in their Eastern Conference semi-finals, Sunday in the play-offs of the NBA.

As he had done almost at the buzzer to snatch the win in match N.1, "The Beard" (the bearded man) released a winning three-point shot 19 seconds from the end of the "overtime", to put back the Sixers lead in scoring. End of suspense? Not at all, because on the Celtics' last possession, Marcus Smart (21 pts) succeeded in his winning shot, believing he was air conditioning the boiling Wells Fargo Center, before the slow motion showed that the ball had left his hand a handful of tenths of a second too late, after the end of the clock.

And Philly to push a big “phew” of relief, avoiding the disappointment of a third consecutive loss which would have very largely compromised his hopes of qualification, before the fifth meeting scheduled for Tuesday in Boston.

Harden will have been his savior, being very skilful (16/23 in shots including 6/9 at long distance) and struggling on all sides (9 assists, 8 rebounds, 4 interceptions). “I tried to be aggressive. Tonight was really a matter of life or death,” commented the rear. Harden has, in fact, answered the call of Joel Embiid who had just called on his teammates to show more bite, after the setback conceded 48 hours earlier. The MVP of the season, not always at the party against Al Horford who inflicted three blocks on him (5 in total, 10 pts), also set an example by scoring 34 points (13 rebounds).

In their wake, the Sixers counted up to 16 units in advance in the third quarter, before the awakening of Jayson Tatum, passed through his first period (1/8 shots) and who ended up finding the target in the second to finish with 24 points, overflowing with activity in defense (18 rbds, 4 counters). Put back on track by their leader, but also Malcolm Brogdon (19 pts), the Celtics overturned everything to lead 105-100 two minutes from time. And this, despite the disappearance of Jaylen Brown (23 pts), yet started very strong with a 4/4 in the first three minutes.

But Harden, required to react, he who had been muzzled in the last two matches (12 and 16 pts at 17.8% cumulative average) after his eruption at 45 points at the start of the series, managed the float to snatch the extension. Before therefore delivering the coup de grace that we know … “James was brilliant”, complimented his coach Doc Rivers. “He was able to get back in the saddle. Before the match, I had sent him a gospel song called "Do You Know My Name". And James Harden was James Harden tonight." It has indeed relaunched a very undecided series, even if Boston, finalist last year, perhaps seems more equipped collectively to make a difference over time.