James Harden has been getting the “Philly treatment” over the past few days after following up a Game 1 masterclass against the Boston Celtics with two miserable performances that ultimately led to two straight Sixers losses. 

After shooting a combined 5-for-28 in games two and three against the Celtics, Harden returned to the court last night with a vintage performance to lead the Sixers past the Celtics 116-115 in overtime, tying the series at 2-2 with Game 5 in Boston on Tuesday night. 

Harden scored 42 points on 16-of-23 shooting, drilling 6-of-9 attempts from three point range while adding nine assists and eight rebounds.

JAMES HARDEN GAME 4: 42 PTS | 9 AST | 8 REB | 4 STL

Originally tweeted by Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) on May 7, 2023.

Harden hit a clutch floater in the final seconds of the fourth quarter to send Game 4 to overtime, only to follow it up with a go-ahead three with 19 seconds left on the clock to lift the Sixers to a much needed win. 

James Harden Clutch Floater 

Originally tweeted by The Liberty Line (@LibertyLinePHL) on May 7, 2023.

James Harden Go-Ahead Three in Overtime

Originally tweeted by The Liberty Line (@LibertyLinePHL) on May 7, 2023.

Before Game 4 even started, Doc Rivers texted Harden a song after his miserable performances in game two and three.

It was a gospel song titled “You Know My Name” by singer Tasha Cobbs Leonard.

Doc Rivers on Sending James Harden a Gospel Song

“For a day and a half, he had to get himself back,” said Rivers. “No one did that, but James. Film’s great and we talked and probably 15,000 other people probably talked to him, but James—I sent him a gospel song before the game and the title of it is ‘Do you know my name?’ and James Harden was James Harden tonight (Sunday).”

Harden spoke with the media following the win and pulled out his phone to make sure he got the song right.

His description of the song and Doc Rivers texting him is hilarious.

Also notice the outfit and the fact that Harden has two phones with him at all times.

Legendary stuff, folks.…

Doc Rivers sent James Harden “You Know My Name” by Tasha Cobbs Leonard

“He sent me a song…I’m on my way to the game and I get a text from Doc and I’m like ‘What is going on?’…it’s a gospel song,” Harden said smiling. “So I’m like ‘Alright, whatever’ so I just told my homies ‘Let’s play the song!’ it’s a seven-minute song, but I let the whole song play. I’m like ‘Alright, there’s gotta be some good juju in this song or however he’s feeling, I wanna feel like that’ and I guess it worked.” – James Harden via SixersWire

Doc Rivers should definitely make a Spotify playlist for Harden and the rest of the Sixers, similar to what Garrett Stubbs did for the Philadelphia Phillies during their World Series run last fall. Get all the gospel hits on there and maybe mix in a few Lil Baby songs to keep the vibe on point.

Regardless, I don’t care what’s playing as long as Harden is going to play more like he did in Game 1 and Game 4 against the Celtics.

James Harden Game 5 To-Do List

• Go to Las Vegas for a few hours.
• Strip Club and Night Club visit
• FaceTime John Hao
• Listen to Gospel Music from Doc Rivers

James Harden and Lil Baby

Give me all of it. Whatever it takes to advance to the Eastern Conference finals. The Sixers are now tied with the Boston Celtics in the series 2-2 and will head back to TD Garden on Tuesday night for Game 5.

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