JAMES Harden raised the bar with a sterling performance in the opener of the Eastern Conference semifinal series only to lower it considerably over the next two games.
Harden will look to quiet the critics in Game 4 on Sunday afternoon (Monday in Manila) when the third-seeded Philadelphia 76ers host the second-seeded Boston Celtics. The Celtics hold a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Harden answered a 45-point performance in Philadelphia’s 119-115 victory versus Boston in Game 1 by struggling mightily over the past two games. The former NBA MVP and three-time scoring champion has made just 5 of 28 shots from the floor, including 2 of 13 from 3-point range since Game 1.
“I mean, you just talk to him, and you keep telling him to keep shooting,” 76ers star Joel Embiid said after Harden made 3 of 14 shots from the floor in a 114-102 setback on Friday (Saturday in Manila).
In the Western conference semifinals, Devin Booker and Kevin Durant combined for 86 points in Game 3 as the Phoenix Suns got back into the series.
But the star duo could use some help on Sunday night when the Suns attempt to even the best-of-seven series against the top-seeded Denver Nuggets.
Booker matched his playoff career high with 47 points on remarkable 20-of-25 shooting.
Durant wasn’t nearly as efficient as he was 12 of 31 while scoring 39 points.
Booker was the showstopper by scoring 45 or more points for the third time in eight games this postseason. He set the tone with 27 first-half points as Phoenix built a 15-point lead at the break en route to the 121-114 home victory.
“Be aggressive. Can’t get too high, can’t get too low. Some nights you’re going to make lots of other shots, a lot of tough ones, and some nights you’re not going to make them. So, it’s about finding other ways to impact the game.”
Harden appeared to pass up scoring opportunities after struggling to locate his shot early in the game.
“I don’t know. I got to watch the game,” the 33-year-old Harden said. “But I’m pretty good on basketball instincts. I know when to score and I know when to pass. So, I’m pretty sure a lot of them was the right play.”
Harden was quick with a comment when asked if the Celtics did anything defensively to impact his game.
“Nope,” he said.
Boston guard Malcolm Brogdon had a different take.
“It is that time of year,” Booker said afterward. “We’ve dropped a few games on their home floor and we just wanted to protect ours. This was a really important game for us. Now we have to turn around and be ready for Sunday.” — Field Level Media
