Boston Celtics 115 vs 116 Philadelphia 76ers summary: stats and highlights | NBA Playoffs Game 4
The Eastern Conference Semifinal is tied at a two games a piece after the Philadelphia 76ers survived an overtime battle with the Boston Celtics from Wells Fargo Center. James Harden saved the day for the Sixers for a second time in the series, posting 42 points and again coming up with the game winning bucket late in OT.
Harden the hero again
The former NBA MVP was bombarded by doubts after two sub par shooting games that raised questions about his coexistence with current MVP Joel Embiid since his return from injury. He had hit just 5 of 28 FGs in Games 2 and 3, but made up for lost time in the overtime win that will silence many of the doubters.
Harden had as many FGs in the first quarter (2) as he did all of Game 3, but he wasn’t the one making headlines in the opening 12 minutes. Jaylen Brown had Boston’s first 10 points of the day, and ended the quarter with 12 but Joel Embiid went toe-to-toe with the Celtics star.
Embiid looks like he is getting more and more comfortable with the knee brace that seemed to affect his play when he returned from an LCL sprain in Game 2. He had 12 in the first quarter and the Sixers led by eight as Jayson Tatum was shut down until the final minute of the first half when he scored his first bucket of the game.
Tatum responds after silent first half
Harden, meanwhile, ignited in the second quarter while Embiid went to the bench for a brief rest. He had 12 points in the first four minutes out of the quarter change and ended the half with 21 to keep the Sixers up by 9 heading into the second half.
Tatum’s late first half floater seemed to wake him up on the offensive end, and he went for 13 in the third quarter but Embiid and Harden kept their cushion over the Celtics extending the lead out 16 midway through the third.
Embiid went ice cold in the fourth quarter and so did the Sixers who scored just 15 points and allowed the Celtics to take a five point lead with two minutes to go in the game as Tatum led the charge. He ended the game with 24 after scoring just 2 in the first half. Brown had 23, but it wasn’t enough to top the Sixers from forcing OT.
Harden with two game winners, so far
Harden sent the game to OT with a floater in the lane, and Marcus Smart had a chance to win it, but missed an open three as the buzzer sounded that would have clinched Game 4 for Boston.
Instead, Philly forced overtime and Embiid held serve scoring four of his 34 points after regulation and Harden sentenced the game when the MVP kicked it out to him in the corner for the go ahead three with 19 to go in the extra session. Smart had another chance to win the game, and would have won it if he got the ball off in time but his three ball came just milliseconds after the block hit 0.0 and the Sixers held on to win.
The series now heads back to Boston after both teams registered wins on the road in the first four games. Tip off to Game 5 is Tuesday at 7:30 from TD Garden.
Smart hit the three that would have won Game 4 for Boston but he didn't get it off in time and the Celtics hang on to even the series.
Embiid drew the defense and Harden was waiting in the corner for the dagger to give the Sixers the lead, but the job wasn't done yet.
Embiid was quiet in the fourth quarter as Al Horford locked down the defense, but in the OT session Embiid showed why he's the MVP.
When they needed it most, the Sixers didn't go to their MVP, they went to their hot hand James Harden to force the game into overtime.
P.J. Tucker off all players, came up with the biggest play of the night hitting this and one off the air ball rebound to tie the game up.
Boston kept chipping away at the Philly lead and took the lead with under four minutes to go, but Harden had an answer.
Philly scored just 15 points in the fourth quarter and allowed the Celtics to climb back in the ball game, but would have just enough in the take to push past Boston.
After scoring just 28 points and hitting five FGs in the previous two games of the series. He had 16 in Game 4, and hit six from behind the arc.
For most of the second half it was either Embiid or Harden scoring for the Sixers. That's what happens when you have a duo combine for 76 points.
It didn't take long for Harden to get going out of the break, he hit this step back on route to 18 points in the second half.
James Harden looked like the Game 1 James Harden after many questioned if he can have these kinds of games with Joel Embiid on the floor.
The Sixers led by as many as 14 as Embiid came back to action and immediately got back to work. He had 19 and 11 at the half while Harden has 21.
Embiid started the second quarter on the bench and James Harden ignited with his MVP on the sidelines. He had 12 points in the first four minutes and the Sixers pulled ahead by double digits.
Embiid looks more and more comfortable with that knee brace on as each game goes by. He had double figures in the first quarter to start a Game 4.
Jaylen Brown gave the Sixers all they could handle in the first quarter of Game 4, scoring the first 10 points for Boston, but Harden and Embiid kept pace with the Celtics and Brown.
THE SIXERS WITH A HUGE HOME WIN TO SEND THE SERIES BACK TO BOSTON TIED AT 2-2!!!
Tatum kicked it out and Smart was open for three and he drilled it but he didn't get it off in time and the Sixers are going to hold off to win Game 4!!!
HARDEN DRILLS THE THREE OUT OF THE TIMEOUT AND THE SIXERS TAKE THE LEAD WITH 15 ON THE CLOCK!!!
Tatum bumped off Maxey, stepped back and drilled the three ball to take the lead with 26.4 seconds to go!
Embiid sent to the line by Horford and he hits both FTs with 56 to go.
Harden missed the three ball but Horford fouled Embiid on the rebound attempt. Philly ball with 1:02 to go.
The call stands and the Celtics will take the ball back with 1:49 to go.
Embiid was called for the charge after Smart stood strong underneath and the C's will challenge the call with 1:48 to go in the fourth.
Embiid gets the turn around jumper over Horford to go and we have a one point game with 2:16 to go in OT.
Smart with the drive, the finish and the foul!!! FT is good to complete the three point play!
Harden with another block this time no Harden! The Celtics had five in the fourth quarter
Tatum into the paint and his floater falls.
Maxey makes a mad dash to the rack and gets the soft touch off the glass on the lay up.
OVERTIME IS UNDERWAY FROM PHILLY!
Smart had a great look from three point range as the clock ran out but he left it off the front iron!
We are headed to overtime from Philly!!!
Harden down the lane and hits the floater with 15.9 on the clock to tie the game!
Embiid got blocked and Maxey got the rebound. The shot clock resets after the refs have a quick chat. Sixers ball with 28.4 to go.
Tucker sends Smart to the line and he hits both FTs. C's lead with 51.5 to go.
Tucker gets the offensive board, the bucket and the foul!!! Foul was on Brogdon and Tucker makes the FT to tie the game up with 1:06 to go!!!
Harden comes out of the break and gets the lay up to go on the drive.
Brogdon was left open for three and he drills it after Smart found him! That's five threes for Brogdon tonight!!!
Timeout Sixers 2:03 to go in the fourth.
Harden stops in the lane and hits the jumper in the lane.
Smart drills a three ball after the Horford block on Tatum and the Celtics lead by 4!!!
Tatum going to the line after Embiid got a piece of him on the acrobatic lay up attempt. He hits one of two FTs and the C's lead by 1 with 3:21 to go.
Harden at the line after the foul on Brown and he hits both FTs. We are tied up with 3:30 to go.
Horford on the streak to the rack after the Tatum offensive board!!! The C's lead for the first time since it was 19-17!!!
Tatum with a block on a Niang three and gets the reverse lay in to go on the break and we are tied up from Philly!!!
Timeout SIxers with 5:25 to go!!!
Brown strings a three ball and all of the sudden we have a two point game with under six to go!
Brown drives and dishes to Smart in the corner for three out of the timeout!!!
Harden comes up with the steal and hits Embiid on the bounce pass up the lane for the lay up in transition.
Timeout Celtics with 7:15 to go in the fourth quarter!
Smart at the line and he hits both FTs after the foul on Niang.
Harden shrugs off Tatum and hits the floater in the lane.
Tatum at the line after the foul on Melton and he hits one of two FTs.
Tatum finds White streaking down the court after the long rebound and that's the easiest lay up he'll have all game.
Timeout Sixers with under 10 to go.
Maxey on the drive and gets the tough lay up to go off the glass to end an 8-0 run.
That's how the third quarter is going to end. Tatum exploded for 13 of his 15 in the quarter to bring the C's back into the game.
Embiid had double digits in the quarter and he's got 28 while Harden has 29 to lead all scorers.
Tatum to the line after the foul on Niang and he hits both. He's got 15 in the quarter.
Tatum to the rack and hits the runner off the glass from the block.
White answers back with a three and the Celtics are trying to hang around heading into the final quarter.
Harris pulls up from the wing and drills the three ball!
Tatum down low and dumps it off to Williams for the jam.
Niang in the corner and he strings a three off the kick out from Harris!
Embiid fouled by R. Williams and he hits one two FTs.
Tatum streaks through the lane and hits the runner off the glass!
Timeout Sixers with 3:07 to go in the third quarter.
R. Williams fouled by Niang and he goes to the line and hits one of two FTs.
Brogdon with a quick trigger three ball and he's got four three balls on the night.
Embiid at the line after the foul on G. Williams and he hits both FTs.
Brown drives into the lane and hits the lay up off the Horford assist.
Maxey drill a three ball from the top of the key and he's in double digits tonight!
Tatum gets to the rack and finishes with a lay up.
Embiid to the line and he hits both FTs after the foul on Smart.
Tatum dumps it down to Williams and he gets the lay up underneath to go.
Harden gets the board, walks down the court and snaps the net with a three ball!!! He's got 29 and the Celtics need a timeout with 6:47 to go in the third.
Embiid with the mid ranger after the over the head pass from Harden.
Horford drills the three ball to pull the Celtics back within 10.
Harden stops on a dime and hits the jumper in the lane.
Harris at the line after the foul on Smart and he hits both FTs.
Embiid with a short floater after Harden hit him on the slash to the cup.
White gets into the lane and drops the floater over the defense.
Tucker drills the three in the corner after the kick out from Maxey!
Brown gets back to the rack and hits the lay up. He's got 18!
Harden drills the step back and he's still red hot coming into the second half!
Tatum gets the offensive board off the Smart missed three and get puts it back for four straight points.
Tatum goes to the rack and hits the runner off the glass. That's a sight for sore eyes for Celtics fans.
WE ARE BACK IN PLAY FOR THE SECOND HALF OF GAME 4!
Philly went on a big run as Brown went cold and Tatum couldn't see the ball go down. Embiid had 19 in the first half, and Harden ended the half with 21 on 8/11 FGs to lead all scrorers.
Harden scored 12 points in the first four minutes of the second quarter and stretched the Sixers lead out to 16.
Embiid started the second quarter on the bench and Harden took the keys to the car and floored it.
Embiid had 12 in the first quarter and he was doing it from around the bucket, the FT line and the baseline to start the game.
Embiid was his usual dominant self and he looks like he has grown accustomed to playing with that big bulky knee brace.
After just four FGs in his last two games, Harden made it a point to get to the basket early and often.
Brown scored double figures for the third time in four first quarters in this series to keep pace with the Sixers who came out firing.
The Sixers got started early with Maxey, Harden and Embiid all chipping in to start the game. Maxey has 7 at the half.
WE ARE HEADED TO HALFTIME FROM PHILLY!
James Harden looked like the guy we saw in Game 1, scoring 21 points and Embiid chipped in another 19 and 11 boards.
Brown was on fire to start the game, scoring the first 10 Celtics points and ended the quarter with 12, but has just 16 heading into half. Tatum missed his first 8 shots, and finally got on the board in the final minute of the half.
Horford answers back with a three ball with 1.1 on the halftime clock.
Harden drops the three ball and he's over 20 in the first half!!!
Tatum with a pump fake, dribble and pull up and he's finally on the board after 27 and a half minutes.
Brogdon drills the three ball, his third of the quarter and the Celtics are trying to cut into the lead before half.
Brown to the line after the foul on Embiid but he misses both FTs, He gets his own rebound and hits the jumper from the FT line.
Harden with the half court pass to Embiid for the easy lay in and the Sixers are on a 7-0 run after a little run from the Celitcs.
Harris releases off the outlet from Embiid and he gets the lay in on the break.
Maxey pulls up from the top of the key and he drills the three ball! He's got 7 on the night.
Brogdon was fouled on the drive by Tucker and he hits both FTs.
Brogdon with a catch and release three from the wing and he's had some good minutes off the bench.
Spot up jumper from Embiid is good and he hits it like Horford wasn't even there.
Brogdon with the reverse lay up on the break after the steal by Horford.
Embiid pulls up from the elbow and he's got a quick three off the bench and 15 on the night.
Embiid gets the offensive board and earns a trip to the line after the foul on Tatum. He hits one of two FTs and he's got 13.
The Sixers take a timeout with 6:00 up by 11 going into the end of the first half.
Harden drills another step back three ball and he's unstoppable!!! He's got 18 points, 12 in the first four minutes of this second quarter!
Timeout Celtics with 7:49 to go in the half.
Harden's step back goes and he's on fire in this second quarter!!!
Brogdon answers back with a three from the wing and he's on the board for the first time today.
Niang gets his second three ball to go from the top of the key!
Smart gets the step back three ball and he's off to a fantastic second quarter start.
Harden with the drive and floater in the lane and he's warming up with Embiid on the bench.
Williams at the line and he hits one of two after the foul on Harris.
Harden pulls up and steps back and drops the mid range jumper. He's having exactly the kind of game the Sixers need to win today.
Brown going back to the rack and he's got 14 points already.
Harden steps back and drops the three from the top of the key and there was some contact, but no whistle came.
Smart walks into a three ball from the top of the key and he has shown he can get hot in a hurry in this series.
Reed off the bench in relief for Embiid and he gets a lay up off the assist from Harden.
Smart starts the quarter with a sweet behind the back move and gets the short jumper from outside the lane to go.
WE ARE AT THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER IN PHILLY!
Embiid is leading the Sixers in a first quarter which they built their largest lead of the series. He's got 12, and Harden has two FGs and 6 points off three attempts.
Brown started red hot, scoring the first 10 points for the Celtics and he has 12 after the opener, but also has two fouls.
Embiid with the one footed fader on the baseline and Philly have their largest lead of the series.
Embiid with the mismatch on Smart and he takes him on the block, gets the bucket and the foul! FT is good to complete the three point play and he's got 10 already.
Niang into the game out of the timeout and on to the scoreboard with a three ball!
Harden puts it on the deck and finger rolls it off the glass and he's got as many FGs as he had all of last game.
Timeout Celtics with 2:44 to go in the first quarter.
White pulls the trigger from deep and he drills the three for his first points of the day.
Harden was fouled by Tatum on the drive and he hits both FTs.
Horford with the offensive board, and he earns both FTs after the foul on Tucker. Both FTs are good and the Celtics lead by one.
Tucker crashing the boards and he gets the tip in off the miss from Maxey.
Embiid with a catch and shoot jumper in the lane after the entry pass from Harris.
Brown running the break and he gets the baseline jam off the feed from Smart and he's got 12 points already!
Timeout Sixers with 7:10 to go in the first quarter!
White cuts to the bucket and Horford hit him for the lay up off the glass.
Brown shakes off the second foul with a pull up three ball and he's got all 10 Celtics points!
Brown just picked up his second foul after Embiid grabbed the offensive rebound. He will stay in for the time being, but two fouls in 3:30 minutes is trouble for the C's. Embiid hits both FTs.
Brown drills the three ball in the corner and he's got the first 7 Celtics points!
Embiid at the line after the foul on Horford and he hits one of two FTs.
Brown showing the strength and getting to the rack for the lay in.
Harris backing down Smart on the block and he gets the short shot to go off the crystal.
Harden get the floater from close range to drop and the Philly fans breath a sigh of relief.
Maxey pulls up from the elbow and he is on the board for the first time tonight. We talked pregame about Philly needing a big day from their speedy scorer.
Brown gets his night started with a floater in traffic. Will he have another big first quarter today?
Harden drives and dumps it off to Embiid for the easy lay up off the glass. That's exactly the start the Sixers want to see.
GAME 4 IS UNDERWAY FROM PHILLY!!!
Can the Sixers tie up the series or will it be the Celtics pulling to within a win away from the Eastern Conference Finals?
Same ole same ole for Joe Mazzulla who has liked what he's seen from his starting five in the first three games. Especially from Jaylen Brown who has had double digits in the opening quarter of two of the last three games.
Which of the Sixers starting five is going to step up and help Joel Embiid lift this team to victory and tie up the series? My money is on Tyrese Maxey. He is a primetime scorer and has shown that the playoff lights wont' outshine him on the big stage.
Harden hurtin'
When the Philadelphia 76ers brought in James Harden they were imagining getting the player we saw in Game 1 of this series. He scored 45 points and led his team to the victory with a dramatic three ball to top the Celtics. In the last two games he has made just five of his last 28 field goals and has a combined 28 points. His role has undeniably chanced in the City of Brotherly Love and Harden has adjusted to the change like a champion. He went from a one time top scorer in the NBA to leading the league in assists this year. That won’t mean a thing to Philly fans if he can’t right the ship and turn things around in this series. Sure this is Embiiid’s team, but Embiid needs his teammates to step up against a team that knows how to win deep in the playoffs.
Danger being down 3-1
The prospect of a loss is a scary one for the Sixers coming into tonight. In the history of the NBA there has only been 13 teams that have bounced back from a 3-1 deficit. That should tell you the urgency Philly need to play with tonight in what could be their final home game of the season if they aren’t careful. The Celtics were the first team in the NBA to do it, and they did it to the Sixers back in the 1968 Eastern Division Finals. The last time a team came back from 3-1 down was in 2020 when the Denver Nuggets beat the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers in back to back rounds to make the Western Conference Finals.
Em-VP
Joel Embiid hadn’t played in almost two weeks before returning from an LCL sprain in his knee and his comeback started slow, but since then the MVP is playing like an MVP. He missed Game 1, which the Sixers miraculously won thanks to the heroics of James Harden, and had 15 points and 3 rebounds in his comeback game which the Sixers got blown out in earlier in the week. After being awarded the MVP trophy in a fantastic pregame ceremony, he posted 30 and 13 in yet another loss. The teams balance has shifted on the offensive end since the big man came back and time is running out for the Sixers to make an adjustment on the fly. He needs to be as good as he was in Game 3, but he could certainly use Harden playing like the James Harden we have seen flashes of. Embiid and the Sixers also need big games players like Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris in a near must win game today.
Tatum took over in Game 3
Jayson Tatum isn’t making any friends in Philly at the moment. He hit two huge buckets late in the fourth quarter to seal the Game 3 win, and looks to have put his 7 point game behind him. Tonight Tatum will have another chance to make some more enemies in the Wells Fargo Center, but if it means that Boston heads back home a win away from the ECF then he won’t mind one bit.
Game 3 recap
The Celtics went in to Philly and crashed Joel Embiid’s MVP party on Friday night. Jayson Tatum responded from a career low playoff game with with 27 points and had 10 points in the first half to get the Celtics started out of the gate. Joel Embiid was able to overcome an emotional pregame trophy presentation and at times single handily keep his team in the game. James Harden had another cold night from the field starting the game 2/14 and that allowed the The Celtics to take the lead in the second quarter and carry it all the way to the finish line.
We are live from Wells Fargo
Hello everyone and welcome to the City of Brotherly Love where the Sixers are looking to get at least one in front of their home fans tonight, or else the series is in serious danger of getting out of hand for Doc Rivers’ side. Boston let the opener slip through their hands as James Harden went off in Game 1, but he has disappeared since the return of Joel Embiid and now Philly’s Big Two have their backs against the wall against the defending Eastern Conference champions.
Celtics vs. Sixers live
The Boston Celtics are up 2-1 on the Philadelphia 76ers after taking back home court advantage in Game 3 from Wells Fargo Center on Friday night. Tonight the Sixers need a win to keep the Celtics from inching to within a win away from Easter Conference Finals. AS English will be with you all afternoon with live stats, scores and highlights of tonight’s showdown from Philly.