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James Harden inspired the Philadelphia 76ers to a thrilling 119-115 victory over the Boston Celtics in game one of their Eastern Conference semi-final.<\/span><\/p>\n Harden scored 45 points, including a three-pointer to put the 76ers ahead with eight seconds remaining at TD Garden in Boston.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n “He was awesome,” said Sixers coach Doc Rivers. “Kept his cool, knew when to attack, knew when to give it up.”<\/span><\/p>\n Game two of the best-of-seven series is at the same venue on Thursday.<\/span><\/p>\n The Sixers were without the injured Joel Embiid. The six-time NBA All-Star suffered a knee injury in game three of the first-round play-off series against the Brooklyn Nets and it is not yet known when he will return.<\/span><\/p>\n Tyrese Maxey scored 26 points for the 76ers, while Jayson Tatum led the way for the Celtics with 39.<\/span><\/p>\n Two free throws from Tatum put Boston 115-114 ahead late in the final quarter, but Harden held his nerve to sink a three-pointer from 25 yards and give Philadelphia the lead.<\/span><\/p>\n “He had just the perfect mindset,” said Rivers. “I’m so happy for him because it just tells you what he can do on a given night. <\/span><\/p>\n “It’s amazing – the guy’s a Hall-of-Famer and all you hear is the other stuff about him. He’s fantastic.”<\/span><\/p>\n In the Western Conference, Nikola Jokic scored 39 points as the Denver Nuggets beat the Phoenix Suns 97-87 to take a 2-0 series lead.<\/span><\/p>\n “Nikola’s an MVP for a reason. He can take over a game. He can beat you in a lot of ways. I love an aggressive Nikola Jokic,” said Nuggets coach Michael Malone.<\/span><\/p>\n Aaron Gordon added 16 points and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope 14 for the Nuggets in a game dominated by defences at the Ball Arena in Denver.<\/span><\/p>\n