Philadelphia fought again from an 18-point third-quarter deficit to tug off a excellent win at Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum as a titanic combat between the Eastern Conference main Bucks and third-placed Sixers lived as much as the billing.
While the Sixers’ Joel Embiid completed with 31 issues and Tyrese Maxey added 26, Harden used to be the simple driver of a pulsating past due rally that carried Philadelphia to victory.
“95? Damn.” @jalenmcdaniels5 on Harden, Embiid, and Maxey’s scoring total in the big comeback! https://t.co/FOQjnbNhFH
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) 1677992041000
The 10-time NBA All-Star poured in 21 of his 38 points in the fourth quarter as Philadelphia outscored Milwaukee 48–31 in the final frame.
Harden also laid on 10 assists and hauled down nine rebounds in a fine all-round performance.
“He used to be unbelievable, large shot after large shot, he led the comeback — he used to be simply James Harden,” Embiid said of his teammate.
Harden paid tribute to Embiid after arguably the best offensive display from the duo since they joined forces at Philadelphia.
“We’ve figured it out, he is the lead scorer and we attempt to give him the ball and provides him pictures,” said Harden, who moved to Philadelphia last year from Brooklyn.
38 PTS | 10 AST | 9 REB Harden was makin’ some noise tonight. 💥🎥 presented by @PALottery https://t.co/Z2jLLjOetp
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) 1677992346000
“One sport at a time, we attempt to recuperate quarter via quarter and simply stay pushing into the postseason.”
Milwaukee were left ruining a late collapse that seemed improbable as the Bucks surged 18 points clear late in the game, leading 95–77 with only 2:41 left in the third quarter.
The Sixers trimmed the gap to 14 points by the start of the fourth, and then went on a 15–2 run to convert the contest.
Milwaukee clung to a slender lead with less than two minutes remaining, but a 29-foot three-pointer from Harden put the Sixers within one at 125-124.
their reaction to this stat >>>>> https://t.co/3ic82kfy54
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) 1677991299000
Harden set up Embiid for a three-pointer to put Philadelphia 127-125 ahead with 42 seconds remaining and the Sixers closed out the win.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee scorers with 34 points and 13 rebounds, Brook Lopez and Jrue Holiday recorded 26 points each and Grayson Allen 20.
Milwaukee remains top of the East with a 45–18 record, half a game ahead of Boston. Philadelphia improved to 41–22.
In other games on Saturday, Miami boosted its playoff hopes with a 117-109 win over the Atlanta Hawks.
Bam Adebayo led the Miami scorers with 30 points from 10-of-12 shooting while Tyler Herro added 20 points.
Jimmy Butler and Caleb Martin weighed in with 15 points apiece as Miami improved to 34–31 to remain in seventh place.
JO & JAMES. 👏👏👏 https://t.co/8exoinqc20
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) 1677990231000
The win came a day after Miami had fallen at home to the New York Knicks.
“The perfect factor for us coming off a sport like that used to be to play the very subsequent evening,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. “To get the win used to be actually vital.”
In Cleveland, the Cavaliers cruised to a 114–90 win over the Detroit Pistons, with Donovan Mitchell leading a comfortable win with 20 points. Five Cleveland players finished in double digits.
The Toronto Raptors ground out a 116-109 win on the road against the Washington Wizards.
Fred VanVleet made six three-pointers in a 25-point haul for Toronto while Gary Trent Jr. finished with 26 off the bench.
(With company inputs)