Joel Embiid may have been the star man as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, but James Harden managed to surpass the great Michael Jordan on the night.
The 76ers won 120-119 as Embiid secured a last-second winner after a surging run through the Trail Blazers defence. Embiid finished the game with 39 points, and Harden was their next highest scorer with 19.
Five of those points for Harden were from the free throw line, and it moved him above Michael Jordan on the all-time NBA free throws list. Harden is now the sixth highest-scoring NBA player from free throws, moving just one ahead of Jordan in the process.
Harden went into Friday night needing just five free throws to move above Jordan's tally of 7,327. And five is the exact number he got, and he converted every single one on a clinical night for the 33-year-old.
It was a big win for the 76ers on their quest for NBA title success, and an excellent result mentally as they trailed the Trail Blazers by 11 points as they entered the fourth quarter. But with just seconds left they trailed by a singular score, and Embiid stepped up to snatch the win.
Embiid was full of confidence after the game, and claimed that he was "unguardable" for defenders. "I've said it: I think I'm unguardable," Embiid said, via Sam DiGiovanni of ClutchPoints.
"It's all about using that and trying to make my teammates better. With that comes a lot of double-and triple-teams every single game. So it's about how do I make my teammates better every game."
The 76ers are now 44-22 for the season, and sit third in the Eastern Conference - although they're already focusing on the postseason. The 76ers are determined to end their 40-year wait for an NBA Championship, and Harden will be hoping to end his own personal drought.
Harden is one of the best NBA players to never win a title, and it continues to be a factor that fans bring up when criticising the player. Harden snapped recently following ongoing scrutiny, following reports that he may have his heart set on a return to the Houston Rockets.
"I don’t know what they want from me. You know what I mean? I’ve been doing this thing for a very long time," Harden said. "I’ve been one of the most consistent players in this league since I’ve been in."
Harden's best shot at winning the title is to remain with the 76ers, although his contract is set to expire at the end of the season. There is an option for a further year, but Harden continues to be linked with a sensational return to the Rockets.
