Sixers: Doc Rivers keeps cool amid James Harden’s Vegas trip

Doc Rivers – Rivers 76ers – CC BY-SA

Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers did not seem bothered by the information that James Harden had gone on a getaway trip to Las Vegas during the Sixers’ playoff campaign.

In fact, according to a report by Heavy Sports, the 61-year-old coach even encouraged Harden to make the trip. Rivers revealed that Harden had contacted him before going to Vegas, and he let the star player go.

“They asked me about it, and I said, ‘We had three days off.’ I told them to do whatever they want. He’s a grown man. I didn’t care,” Rivers said.

“James called me before he went, and I was like, ‘So what? Do it.”

Doc Rivers, Philadelphia 76ers head coach

In the early hours of Monday morning, the 2018 NBA MVP was spotted outside the Flamingo Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. A video obtained by TMZ Sports shows a short dispute between the 33-year-old and a member of his entourage at approximately 1:25 a.m. local time.

After the Sixers’ 96-88 win over the Brooklyn Nets in Game 4, Harden traveled to Las Vegas in less than 48 hours. The victory provided the Philadelphia team with a few extra days off, further extended due to the Atlanta Hawks’ success in forcing a Game 6 against Boston.

The 10-time NBA All-Star has a history of causing controversy with his off-court activities. In December 2020, he was fined $50,000 by the Houston Rockets when a video surfaced showing him without a mask while partying at a Houston nightclub during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Game 1 win over Celtics

In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Harden delivered an impressive performance, scoring a playoff career-best of 45 points in the 119-115 victory over the Boston Celtics at TD Garden.

The most crucial points of the game came from Harden’s 3-pointer, which he scored while being closely guarded by Celtics forward Al Horford. It took the Sixers to a 117-115 lead with just over eight seconds left.

In the following play, Celtics guard Marcus Smart lost possession of the ball under the basket, and two free throws sealed the victory for Philadelphia.