The second round of the NBA postseason is red hot, and not just because the Miami Heat are on fire. The Phoenix Suns evened things up yesterday against the Denver Nuggets, while the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers continue to fight for control. More great action is coming today to keep fans and bettors on their toes.

Harden Rescues 76ers

In the Eastern Conference Semifinals series, James Harden had his career’s two of the poorest shooting games in Games 2 and 3 against Celtics and 76ers. During this time, Doc Rivers demonstrated his leadership skills and reminded his star guard about his potential before the commencement of Game 4.

It must have worked because in a stunning display, Harden achieved a remarkable run of 42 points by making 16 of his 23 attempts, which included hitting six of his nine shots from beyond the arc. Additionally, he secured eight rebounds, dished out nine assists, stole the ball four times, blocked an attempt, and made only one turnover.

What’s more, he delivered a clutch performance when it mattered the most, hitting the game-winning shot in the final seconds of regulation and then sinking a 3-pointer from the corner with just 19 seconds left. Thanks to Harden’s heroics, Philadelphia secured an unbelievable 116-115 victory on Sunday at the Wells Fargo Center.

Game 5 in Boston awaits the Eastern Conference champion, with the series evenly split at two games each. Harden’s rediscovery of his Game 1 form, which saw him tally 45 points in Embiid’s absence for a victorious Philadelphia, has spurred him on. If the 76ers are to progress, they will require Harden to replicate his outstanding displays.

James and the Lakers Are still in Contention

The Los Angeles Lakers picked up another win on Saturday, beating the Golden State Warriors 127-97 in Game 3 of the NBA semifinals. Ironically, this is the second consecutive game series where the Lakers started with a win, followed by a loss, and ended up winning another game.

Los Angeles’ recent performance has been unpredictable, suffering a significant loss of 27 points on Thursday only to make a spectacular comeback and win by 30 points on Saturday. Despite the Lakers’ inconsistency, James urges his teammates to remain focused and committed to their roles in preparation for the playoffs.

The upcoming game between the Lakers and Warriors in Los Angeles sparks high expectations as fans anticipate the triumphant leadership of James and Davis. Although their rivalry remains, the Lakers are determined to advance to the next round by overcoming the reigning champions. With perseverance and skill, LeBron and his team are confident they will achieve their goal once more.

Butler Has Heroic Effort

Jimmy Butler returned from a right ankle injury to lead the Miami Heat over the New York Knicks by a score of 105-86 in the third game to give Miami a 2-1 lead. Butler was out in Game 2, but returned for Game 3 with 28 points.

Butler’s status was up in the air, but he felt good enough to play. The Heat took full advantage of him as he added 28 points to put the Knicks in trouble.

However, the Miami fans held their breath momentarily when, in the third quarter, Butler appeared limping after a crash into a prop on the court. Fortunately, it seemed like nothing more than a minor collision and Butler concluded his performance.

Butler is expected to be in the lineup for Game 4. It remains to be seen how far his ankle and the Heat’s aspirations can go. Everything indicates that this season could be significant for Miami, and another win is likely tonight.