The Philadelphia 76ers’ NBA playoff hopes were hanging in the balance in the waning moments of Game 4 of their Eastern Conference semifinal against the Boston Celtics. Down 2-1 after two duds, the 76ers couldn’t afford to fall down 3-1 with the series heading back to Beantown.
But, when the team needed them most, their superstars, MVP Joel Embiid and former MVP James Harden, stepped up. Harden has had two masterful performances this series, both wins for the 76ers.
In their Game 1 upset with Embiid sidelined, Harden turned back the clock with a vintage 45-point performance. In Game 4 he nearly matched that, scoring 42 points, including the game-winning 3-pointer with 19 seconds remaining that gave Philadelphia a decisive 119-118 victory.
On the play, the Celtics switched up their defense. Al Horford wasn’t defending Embiid as he had throughout the game. Instead, it was Jayson Tatum with Jaylen Brown still sticking to Harden. It was a late-game strategy that will come back to haunt the Celtics if they are unable to put away the 76ers.
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics & Philadelphia 76ers Updates
With Embiid looking like he was going to take a shot to tie the game, Brown broke to double-team him. Instead of forcing up a shot, Embiid found Harden spotting up in the corner and he knocked down his sixth 3-pointer of the afternoon.
It was something that Brown took full responsibility for, as he said he made a bad read on the play. “Just a bad read,” Brown admitted after the game. “That’s it. It’s a gamble at the wrong time. Big shot by James Harden but that’s my fault. I take full accountability.”
Leaving a shooter in a 2-point game is never the right move, but Brown made a split-second decision, reacting when he saw a situation that would normally require a double-team. While Brown is taking responsibility for it, head coach Joe Mazzulla never should have put him in that position by switching Horford off of Embiid.
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics & Philadelphia 76ers Updates
“It was supposed to be a dribble and off with for me but Jaylen Brown denied me,” Harden said. “So, I just gave Joel space. Jaylen Brown helped and Joel made a hell of a pass, an MVP pass. I shoot that shot every day.”
It was a crushing blow for the Celtics, who were seconds away from securing their third straight win and a commanding 3-1 series lead. Instead, the series is now tied at two games apiece heading back to Boston for a critical Game 5 on Tuesday night.
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics & Philadelphia 76ers Updates
Brown and the Celtics will have to put that last-second misstep behind them as they have two more games to win before advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals. They will certainly have their work cut out for them as the 76ers have already proven that they are capable of winning on the road.
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