Celtics vs 76ers, Game 4: Harden says Philadelphia taking confidence on road after levelling series

Harden said he had added motivation with a special invited guest at courtside: John Hao, a Harden super-fan and student at Michigan State who was paralysed in a campus shooting earlier this year.

Published : May 08, 2023 17:17 IST , NEW YORK - 2 MINS READ

Philadelphia 76ers’ James Harden gives his sneakers to John Hao after Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against Boston Celtics in Philadelphia on Sunday. Harden invited Hao, a student severely wounded in a Feb. 13 mass shooting at Michigan State University, to view the game.
Philadelphia 76ers’ James Harden gives his sneakers to John Hao after Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against Boston Celtics in Philadelphia on Sunday. Harden invited Hao, a student severely wounded in a Feb. 13 mass shooting at Michigan State University, to view the game. | Photo Credit: AP
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Philadelphia 76ers’ James Harden gives his sneakers to John Hao after Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against Boston Celtics in Philadelphia on Sunday. Harden invited Hao, a student severely wounded in a Feb. 13 mass shooting at Michigan State University, to view the game. | Photo Credit: AP

The Philadelphia 76ers hit the road to Boston with “huge confidence” this week after winning 116-115 in Game 4 against the Celtics on Sunday to level its conference semifinal series courtesy of another clutch three-pointer from James Harden.

The 10-time NBA All-Star pushed the game into overtime with a floating jump shot and sealed it with 18 seconds left in overtime with a 24-foot jumper off an assist from newly minted MVP Joel Embiid.

“I put the work in so it’s all about being aggressive,” said Harden, who produced 42 points - just shy of his career playoff high 45 - with eight rebounds and nine assists. “Tonight was really do or die.”

The game was a much-needed injection of confidence, Harden said in a televised interview after the game, after a pair of demoralizing losses with Embiid battling through a sprained right knee.

“Huge confidence, huge confidence. I felt like last game, we didn’t play well offensively - defensively we played extremely hard but we didn’t get our shots to fall,” said Harden.

“Tonight we did a much better job of spacing the floor, giving guys room to operate.”

He had added motivation with a special invited guest at courtside: John Hao, a Harden super-fan and student at Michigan State who was paralysed in a campus shooting earlier this year.

Harden, who spoke to Hao while he was hospitalised and previously pledged to help pay his medical bills, took off his shoes after the game and signed them for Hao.

“He just gave me good luck - he brought me good vibes, good energy,” said Harden, adding he would invite Hao “every game - here on out.”

The Sixers face the Celtics in Boston for Game 5 on Tuesday. 

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