Honeymoon Period Ends for Clippers After James Harden’s Media Escape Triggers 2023 Memories for Fans

The Philadelphia 76ers desperately needed a win after dropping the first two games of their West Coast trip. Facing their former teammate James Harden and the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday, the Sixers delivered a 121-107 victory. While both coaches downplayed the significance of the reunion beforehand, the post-game scene spoke volumes. Harden left the arena before facing the media, seemingly frustrated by a night where his former team dominated.

The Sixers’ offense clicked throughout the afternoon, building a 17-point lead in the first half. Although the Clippers briefly tied the score, Philadelphia responded with a decisive 15-2 run in the fourth quarter. Tobias Harris and Tyrese Maxey led the scoring with 24 points each, while Cam Payne provided a spark off the bench with a season-high 23 points (including five three-pointers). In a strange turn of events, Harden even appeared to have put Maxey (his ex-teammate) in a headlock!

James Harden’s performance with Los Angeles has been inconsistent. Despite averaging 17.3 points and 8.5 assists while boosting the Clippers to a top-4 spot in the Western Conference, his exit before the post-game press conference didn’t sit well with fans.

James Harden, who averaged 17.3 points and 8.5 assists with the Clippers coming into the game, finished with a modest 12 points and 14 assists. He struggled from beyond the arc, going 0-for-6 on three-point attempts while facing jeers from a vocal contingent of Sixers fans in Los Angeles.

Fans show no love for James Harden!

The fan reactions came up as one fan didn’t seem to care about James Harden’s presence at the media scrum by stating, “Who cares”.

One fan referenced Harden’s strange block on teammate Kawhi Leonard in the game against the Portland Trail Blazers by tweeting, “Went from contesting his own teammates to ducking the media.”

One fan even threw some shade on the “Beard” by stating, “Bum ass player can’t even show up against his old team get him outta here man” referencing the ongoing saga of James Harden and the Sixers. After a tumultuous 1.5 seasons in Philadelphia, where he averaged a respectable 22.6 points and 10.2 assists while playing alongside Joel Embiid, Harden requested a trade last offseason. He landed with the Los Angeles Clippers, a move he reportedly preferred.

Yet another fan commented, “Must be going to the bench when Russ gets back” referring to Russell Westbrook’s fractured hand injury that has sidelined him for the rest of the season.

The win marked a significant turnaround for Philadelphia, who had lost 4 of their previous five games. They connected on 18 three-pointers, their best shooting performance of the season. For the Clippers, the loss extended their struggles. They have dropped 5 of their last eight games and haven’t beaten a winning team in three weeks. Kawhi Leonard (20 points) and Paul George (18 points) were their leading scorers, but the team couldn’t keep pace with Philadelphia’s hot shooting.

The Clippers are now set to battle the Indiana Pacers, currently the sixth seed in the East. Will Harden and the Clippers come out victorious, or will we see a repeat of Harden’s frustrated exit from the Crypto.com Arena? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Read More: Coach Lue Saves James Harden’s Honor Ahead of Philadelphia Return, 144 Days After Clippers Trade Fiasco