In the first game of their Eastern Conference semi-final series, the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Boston Celtics 119-115.

Harden scored 45 points, including a three-pointer with eight seconds remaining to put the 76ers up at TD Garden in Boston.

“He was awesome,” Sixers coach Doc Rivers said. “Kept his cool, knew when to attack and when to back down.”

On Thursday, game two of the best-of-seven series will be played at the same location.

The Sixers were without Joel Embiid, who was out with an injury. The six-time NBA All-Star suffered a knee injury in game three of the first-round playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets, and his return date is unknown.

Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 26 points, while Jayson Tatum topped the Celtics with 39.

Late in the fourth quarter, two free throws from Tatum put Boston up 115-114, but Harden held his nerve to hit a three-pointer from 25 yards and give Philadelphia the lead.

“He had just the perfect mindset,” Rivers remarked. “I’m so happy for him because it just shows what he’s capable of on any given night.”

“It’s incredible – the guy’s a Hall of Famer, and all you hear about him is the negative stuff.” He’s incredible.”

Nikola Jokic scored 39 points as the Denver Nuggets defeated the Phoenix Suns 97-87 to grab a 2-0 series lead.

“There’s a reason why Nikola is an MVP. He has the ability to take control of a game. He can defeat you in a variety of ways. “I enjoy an aggressive Nikola Jokic,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone remarked.

In a defensive-dominated contest at Denver’s Ball Arena, Aaron Gordon had 16 points and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 14.