BOSTON (AP) — James Harden tied his career postseason high with 45 points and a step-back 3-pointer over Al Horford with 8.7 seconds to go as the 76ers regained the lead and rallied without Joel Embiid to win by 119-115 to the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Monday.
Tyrese Maxey added 26 points and Tobias Harris finished with 18 for the Sixers, who had 17 3-point attempts in the absence of finalist MVP Joel Embiid, who missed the game with a sprained right ankle suffered in Game 3 of the first-round series against the Nets.
Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 39 points and 11 rebounds, Jaylen Brown added 23 points and Malcolm Brogdon 20.
Boston hosts Game 2 on Wednesday.
Harden had 45 points in the Western Conference Finals in the Houston Rockets’ victory over Golden State on May 25, 2015.
Trailing 117-115, the Celtics had another chance and passed the ball to Tatum, who fumbled and was recovered by Paul Reed, who was fouled and made a pair of free throws.
The matchup came tied 85-85 before a back-and-forth fourth period.
