Author: Monojit Mandal
Two thrilling games left spectators on the edge of their seats during the action-packed NBA Finals. The 76ers won 116-115 in overtime, thanks to Harden’s 3-point basket that won the game with 18 seconds remaining. The Suns beat the Nuggets 129-124 in the Western Conference playoffs, tying the game 2-2. Booker and Durant scored 36 points each for the Suns, while Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 53 points. Let’s look at the details of both games.
Harden’s three-pointer leads Sixers to victory over Celtics
The Philadelphia 76ers beat the Boston Celtics 116-115 in Game 4 of the playoffs, thanks to a three-pointer from James Harden that won the game with 18 seconds remaining in overtime. The win tied the series at 2-2, and set up Game 6 in Philadelphia.
With just two minutes left in the third quarter, Boston were trailing by 15 points, but a surge led by Marcus Smart and Jayson Tatum saw the team recover and take control of the game. The team had several chances to win in extra time, but Smart’s potential match-winner came a little too late. The Celtics will now return home for Game 5.
For the Sixers, Joel Embiid had a goliath game, scoring 34 points and collecting a game-high 13 rebounds, while Harden scored 42 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. Embiid was involved in a controversial offensive foul call at the end of the game, but kept his cool to hit two important free throws with 59 seconds remaining in overtime.
Jayson Tatum struggled at the start, but finished with 24 points, 18 rebounds, six assists and four crucial blocks. Smart scored 21 points, while Brown scored 23. The Celtics struggled in the fourth quarter, but came alive in overtime to give themselves a chance of winning.
Nuggets fall to Suns, despite Jokic’s great performance
The Phoenix Suns beat the Denver Nuggets 129-124 in the Western Conference playoffs, tying the game 2-2. Booker and Durant scored 36 points each, while reserve guard Shamet hit four important three-pointers in the fourth quarter to keep the team in the lead.
Despite a 53-point outburst from Nikola Jokic, runner-up for the MVP award (!), the Nuggets were unable to beat the Suns. Jokic was involved in a controversial incident in which he pulled the ball away from Suns owner Mat Ishbia, which earned him a technical penalty.
The series will now return to Denver for Game 5. In the playoffs, Booker has been a success for the Suns, averaging 36 points on 60% shooting. For the Nuggets, Shamet finished with 19 points on 5-of-8 three-point shooting, while Jamal Murray contributed 28 points and seven assists.
Both the Philadelphia 76ers and Suns tied the series, and are now in a stronger position to advance to the next round. Fans should expect entertaining games as the playoffs progress, with the Celtics and Nuggets now facing must-win games at home. There’s no telling who will win these games, given the quality on display, but one thing’s for sure: NBA fans are going to have a lot of fun over the next few days.