“They never win that game.”
This was a common reaction to the Sixers’ startling Game 1 victory over the Celtics. Taking on perhaps the best team left in the playoffs, on the road, without Joel Embiid has simply never been a game you could envision the Sixers winning in the past. Yet, somehow, some way, led by a marvelous 45-point display from James Harden, the Sixers managed to win.
Games 2 and 3 were different stories entirely. Harden shot 5-of-28 across those two contests and completely shied away from his floaters, mid-range game, and overall aggressiveness that allowed him to take control to open the series.