Philadelphia 76ers fans enjoyed a memorable Sunday at Wells Fargo Center. They watched their team hold off the Boston Celtics 116-115 in Game 4 to even up the Eastern Conference semifinal series at two games apiece.
But the afternoon perhaps meant more to one fan than most.
John Hao survived a mass shooting at Michigan State University in February, although it left him with a life-altering disability. Hao’s story caught the attention of 76ers superstar James Harden, who brought him to Game 4 and gave him a special gift after the dramatic overtime win.
John Hao was paralyzed from the chest down following February’s shooting.
Proof that life is more than basketball
Harden learned he was Hao’s favorite basketball player and decided to FaceTime him while the 20-year-old was hospitalized, recovering from injuries he sustained in the Feb. 13 shooting that killed three and injured four others.
Harden donated to the college student’s GoFundMe, and in the FaceTime call, he pledged to bring Hao and his parents to a game later in the season.
Sunday was the day. Hao, now wheelchair-bound, sat courtside as Harden warmed up then guided Philadelphia to victory. And after the game, Harden sought out Hao to offer him his shoes.
Inspired Harden evens up second-round series
Perhaps extra-motivated by the presence of his new friend, Harden dropped a signature performance Sunday to heighten the tension of this latest Celtics–76ers series.
Though Philadelphia squandered a 16-point lead late in regulation, Harden hit a game-winning shot in overtime to tie the series, firmly putting behind him poor performances in the previous two games.
NBA MVP Joel Embiid added 34 points and 13 rebounds, and the series returns to Boston for Game 5 on Tuesday.
