The nostalgics were served Monday evening, when James Harden seemed to have unearthed the Fountain of Youth.
In the absence of Joel Embiid at the Philadelphia 76ers, the 33-year-old veteran took charge as the team beat the Boston Celtics 119-115 in Game 1 of the second-round series between the two. trainings.
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Harden scored a whopping 45 points, tying his record in a playoff game. It was also the 10th time he had scored at least 40 points in a playoff game, but the first time since May 28, 2021, when he played for the Brooklyn Nets.
“It’s been a long time since I felt in the zone,” Harden said after the game. I felt very good. I was just aggressive with my shots and doing what I wanted. I am still able to do it. It felt good to get shots and give us a chance to win the first away game.”
Harden isn’t the first player to score at least 45 points since the start of the NBA’s postseason. Stephen Curry totaled 50 Sunday in the game that allowed the Golden State Warriors to eliminate the Sacramento Kings.
Jimmy Butler (Miami Heat) did even better with 56 points in Game 4 of the series against the Milwaukee Bucks. Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns) scored 47 points in Game 5 against the Los Angeles Clippers.
The greatest performances by an NBA player in the playoffs
1 – Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls) – 63 points on April 20, 1986
2 – Elgin Baylor (Los Angeles Lakers) – 61 points on April 14, 1962
3 – Donovan Mitchell (Utah Jazz) – 57 points on August 17, 2020
4 – Jimmy Butler (Miami Heat) – 56 points on April 24, 2023
4 – Charles Barkley (Phoenix Suns) – 56 points on May 4, 1994
4 – Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls) – 56 points on April 29, 1992
4 – Wilt Chamberlain (Philadelphia Warriors) – 56 points on March 22, 1962