08 May 2023 , 12:41
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Philadelphia 76ers superstar James Harden put in another incredible performance to draw his team level with the Boston Celtics in the NBA Eastern Conference semi-finals.
Harden scored 42 points in game four, landed a three-pointer with the last basket of the game to tie the series at 2-2 - after his similar heroics in game one. The former MVP had also invited a special guest to watch the game - 20-year-old John Hao, a Michigan State shooting survivor - was watching on from a club box at the arena.
Harden has previously FaceTime'd Hao on numerous occasions, including when he had been recovering in hospitals just days after the horrific incident, but met him for the first time at Sunday night's game.
On February 13, three students were killed and five others - including Hao - were wounded in the shooting Michigan State's campus.
Hao was left paralysed from the chest down as a result.
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After sending him pairs of his shoes and numerous phone calls, Hao was able to attend the game and meet Harden for the first time, and the Sixers star revealed he drew plenty of inspiration from Hao.
Harden told ESPN: "I had a special guest in the building. He just gave me good luck, brought me good vibes, good energy. We knew this game was for him."
Hao had been in hospital for a number of weeks before spending almost two months at a rehabilitation centre in Chicago after the incident.
James Harden of the Philadelphia 76ers gives his game sneakers to Michigan State shooting survivor John HaoThe Chinese international student wore Harden's Sixers jersey during the game, while sitting alongside his parents and was given Harden's match-worn shoes after the game which the 33-year-old also signed.
Harden added: "He's strong, he's bouncing back, he's recovering very well. I feel like it's my job to give him that light, that smile that he deserves. Hopefully today was one of those days where he can smile."
As well as getting motivation from Hao, Harden also revealed that his head coach sent him something to listen to pre-game.
Head coach Doc Rivers sent him a song to listen to. Harden explained: "I'm on my way to the game, and I get a text from Doc.
"It's a gospel song, and I'm like, 'All right, whatever.' So, I just tell my homies, 'Let's play the song.' It's a seven-minute song, but I let the whole song play.
"I was like, 'All right, there's got to be some kind of good juju in this song, or however he's feeling, I want to feel like that.' And I guess it worked."
The best-of-seven series continues with Game Five on Tuesday evening in Boston.
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