NEW YORK — James Harden finished Game 3 in the locker room. The Beard was ejected from the 102-97 win by the Philadelphia 76ers late in the third quarter when he was called for a flagrant two foul. He was not happy with the call when he called out the officials afterward.
In Harden’s place, the Sixers turned to Tyrese Maxey and De’Anthony Melton, and they filled in admirably. Maxey finished with 25 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, and Melton had four points and three steals in the final frame.
Maxey, especially, came to the rescue. He drilled a 3 to bring Philadelphia within two, 96-94, and tied it at 96 with a layup. Then he knocked down a clutch triple to give the Sixers the lead for good with 44.7 ticks left.
“Unbelievable,” Harden said. “Tyrese was great. A big-time 3, I think he played with a controlled pace the entire game. He made timely plays whether it was a 3-ball getting to the basket, just being free, and that’s what he’s been doing all year.”
Then there was Melton, who bothered the Nets on the perimeter all game. He had some huge defensive plays late, including the game-sealing steal off an inbound play when the Nets trailed 100-97. Royce O’Neale threw an errant pass intended for Mikal Bridges, but Melton picked it off and went the other way for a slam to go up five with 5.4 seconds left.
“Great,” Harden said of Melton. “He’s a vet, for the most part. He’s been in situations like that. Defensively, he’s there. Offensively, he’s making shots and doing the things necessary to win. I think everybody contributed in some parts of the game, and we’re gonna need that from the full team.”
The Sixers will have Harden back for Game 4 on Saturday as Philadelphia look to sweep the Nets and advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals.
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