76ers upset Clippers in Harden’s first sport vs Philly since commerce

Philadelphia 76ers guard Buddy Hield (17) drives previous Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden through the first half of an NBA basketball sport, Sunday, March 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Picture/Jae C. Hong)

LOS ANGELES — Tobias Harris scored 24 factors and Tyrese Maxey added 19 of his 24 within the second half of the Philadelphia 76ers’ 121-107 victory over James Harden and the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.

Harden had 12 factors and 14 assists in his first sport in opposition to the 76ers since he compelled his approach out of Philadelphia final November. After going 0 for six on 3-pointers to jeers from a small however vocal cheering part of 76ers followers in Los Angeles, the 10-time All-Star and 2018 MVP will head again to Philadelphia with the Clippers on Wednesday for the rematch.

Harden didn’t converse to the media after this sport, however his former teammates with Philly had been complimentary after soundly beating his new group.

“James is a hell of a participant, and I at all times have an enormous quantity of respect for him,” Harris mentioned. “It’s good to see him in LA flourishing and enjoying his sport, simply balling out. It’s all love and respect. He’s a Corridor of Fame participant, and for me it was an honor being right here enjoying with him. To see him on the opposite facet glad and having fun with what he’s doing, that’s actually what the sport is all about.”

Sunday block get together. 🎉 @moderna_tx pic.twitter.com/OsAaKPuikP

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) March 25, 2024

Cameron Payne had a season-high 23 factors with 5 3-pointers for the 76ers, who rebounded from a loss to the Lakers on Friday by hitting 18 3-pointers in simply their fourth victory in 11 video games.

Philadelphia blew an early 17-point lead over the Clips earlier than taking management with a 15-2 run to open the fourth quarter led by Maxey, who began slowly and completed sturdy for the second straight sport in LA.

“We lastly put two halves collectively, and it felt good,” Payne mentioned. “Photographs had been falling. Everyone got here locked in in the present day. Photographs had been falling, and all people performed the fitting approach.”

Kawhi Leonard scored 20 factors and Paul George had 18 for the Clippers, who’ve misplaced 5 of eight and haven’t crushed a group with a profitable report in three weeks. Norman Powell scored 20 factors after coming back from a three-game absence with a leg bruise, however the Clippers couldn’t sustain with the Sixers’ exterior taking pictures.

“We all know we’ve received to play higher basketball going into the playoffs, or it’s going to be an early season,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue mentioned. “Nonetheless received full confidence on this group and full confidence in what we are able to do. It’s simply (about) going out and doing it each single evening – not 26 minutes, (however) 48 minutes of doing the fitting issues.”

Harden performed in simply 79 regular-season video games throughout 21 tumultuous months with the Sixers, who traded Ben Simmons to amass him from Brooklyn in February 2022. Harden led the NBA in assists final season whereas boosting Joel Embiid in his MVP marketing campaign earlier than Philly misplaced a seven-game sequence to Boston within the second spherical of the playoffs.

The 34-year-old Harden picked up his contract choice to return to Philadelphia final summer season, however abruptly requested a commerce a number of weeks later. He then criticized Sixers president of basketball operations Darryl Morey, reportedly calling the manager “a liar” at an Adidas occasion in China.

Philadelphia nonetheless saved Harden on its roster till Nov. 1, when Morey dealt the Los Angeles native to his most popular vacation spot for a bundle headlined by Nicolas Batum, Robert Covington and KJ Martin.

“It was loopy when it was taking place,” Philadelphia’s Paul Reed mentioned. “I used to be upset, however I wasn’t like, upset-upset. I used to be nonetheless cool. … It does really feel like that occurred final yr. You understand how lengthy the season is.”

Harden has been largely excellent with Los Angeles, averaging 17.3 factors and eight.5 assists whereas boosting the Clippers to a top-four spot within the Western Convention.

Earlier than this sport, each coaches downplayed the significance of the reunion — though 76ers coach Nick Nurse acknowledged “it’d get just a little bit totally different on the opposite finish.” Nurse was referring to Wednesday, when the Clippers go to Philadelphia.

“I didn’t actually hear any, ‘Oh, we’re enjoying (Harden), we’re enjoying (the Clippers),’” mentioned Payne, who joined the Sixers final month. “I really feel like we simply dealt with our enterprise, and it confirmed on the courtroom.”

Batum didn’t play in his return to LA, however received cheers from followers who cherished him throughout his three-plus seasons with the Clippers.

Even after a Saturday evening off in Los Angeles, the Sixers hit 20 of their first 28 pictures and took a 17-point lead within the first half, shaking off the poor taking pictures that plagued an in any other case stable efficiency in opposition to the Lakers. The Clippers rallied to tie it within the third quarter, however by no means led.

NEXT SCHEDULE

76ers: At Sacramento on Monday.

Clippers: Host Indiana on Monday.