The 76ers entered TD Garden on Monday night facing an uphill climb against the Celtics with MVP favorite Joel Embiid out with injury.
Philadelphia fans, have no fear: The Beard is here.
James Harden rose to the occasion and turned in a star performance, erupting for 45 points to stun the Boston crowd and lead the Sixers to a 119–115 Game 1 win. Harden made clutch plays throughout the second half, though none was bigger than his step-back, go-ahead three-pointer that gave Philadelphia a two-point lead with eight seconds remaining.
JAMES. HARDEN. 🔥
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) May 2, 2023
CLUTCH
(via @NBA)pic.twitter.com/suAWq9rXec
The scoring outburst tied a playoff career high for Harden, who made 17 of his 30 field goal attempts while shooting 7-for-14 on threes. He spearheaded a strong offensive showing from 76ers that enabled them to outscore the Celtics despite Boston shooting 58.7% from the floor as a team.
Harden became the fifth player in 76ers history to score 45 or more points in a playoff game. The others are Allen Iverson, Lee Shaffer, Wilt Chamberlain and Billy Cunningham.
The basketball world was stunned by Harden’s postseason brilliance, particularly considering the absence of Embiid. Check out the best social media reactions of the bunch below.
Harden carrying the Sixers in Game 1 pic.twitter.com/9f6v8Xd8t5
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) May 2, 2023
James Harden plants 45 points in TD Garden. pic.twitter.com/fqlsF5NMGz
— nba paint (@nba_paint) May 2, 2023
The Sixers were without Joel Embiid for Game 1
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) May 2, 2023
James Harden: pic.twitter.com/eUtEJpO6zd
James Harden’s signature Sixers moment on a night where the Beard took us back in time to his all star days in Houston.
— Kevin Negandhi (@KevinNegandhi) May 2, 2023
pic.twitter.com/ETBgnxFF10
Remember, this is how James Harden’s night started. pic.twitter.com/SbqqYEFmvr
— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) May 2, 2023
game. blouses. pic.twitter.com/B1YqSujXVv
— Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) May 2, 2023
JAMES HARDEN 45 POINTS IN BOSTON SIXERS WIN pic.twitter.com/tdVkg8ptiB
— Jeff McDevitt (@JeffMcDev) May 2, 2023
They were literally laughing at the idea of James Harden carrying the Sixers today on ESPN. 💀
— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) May 2, 2023
pic.twitter.com/kChjNPTbIz
Active players with double-digit 40-point playoff games:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 2, 2023
— LeBron James
— Kevin Durant
And now, James Harden. pic.twitter.com/ras8TlvIVK
James Harden got three GOOOOOD’s from Kevin Harlan today.
— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) May 2, 2023
That’s how clutch he was. pic.twitter.com/PcnkU1iKt0
