“James Harden’s heroic performance saves 76ers from elimination in Game 4 tiebreaker”

The Philadelphia 76ers avoided elimination in the Eastern Conference semifinals thanks to James Harden’s heroic performance in Game 4. After two career-worst consecutive shooting performances, Harden bounced back to score 42 points on 16-for-23 shooting, including 6-for-9 from beyond the arc. He also recorded eight rebounds, nine assists, four steals, a block, and only one turnover. Harden’s impressive outing led the 76ers to a stunning 116-115 overtime victory over the Boston Celtics that tied the series at two games.

Coach Doc Rivers sent Harden a gospel song titled “You Know My Name?” to remind him of his capabilities heading into Game 4. Harden played the song and led the team with a spectacular performance reminiscent of his MVP days. Had Philadelphia lost the game, Boston would have headed home with a potential Game 7, putting the 76ers‘ playoff hopes in jeopardy.

Harden rediscovered the magic he had in Game 1, where he scored 45 points and led the 76ers to a win without Joel Embiid. In contrast, in Games 2 and 3, Harden shot a combined 5-for-28 from the field, the worst two-game shooting effort of his career, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

Harden’s game-winner, coupled with his winning 3 in the first game of the series, are two of his three go-ahead field goals in his playoff career with fewer than 30 seconds remaining. According to ESPN Stats and Info, Harden entered the series 1-for-10 in those moments.

Philadelphia needed Harden’s performance, especially as the team felt Embiid’s absence in the final minutes of the game when he appeared to run out of gas. Horford blocked Embiid’s shot three times in the final few minutes, causing P.J. Tucker to motivate him with a fiery pep talk. Tucker said, “Nobody can guard Joel one-on-one,” but Embiid admitted that he did not play well.

Overall, Harden’s heroic performance was the game-changer that Philadelphia needed to avoid elimination and tie the series. Harden himself stated that his goal was to win, and he did, no matter how the game played out. Embiid said, “Our goal is to go to Boston and win. We just got to go out and find a win and come back here up 3-2.”

In a high-pressure playoff game, the players’ mental fortitude can make all the difference. Coach Doc Rivers’ sending a gospel song to Harden may have appeared trivial, but it likely helped Harden center himself mentally and find the confidence he needed to bounce back. Harden’s success serves as a reminder that simple gestures like positive affirmations can impact one’s performance.