Harden didn’t appreciate the booing in return to Philly
PHILADELPHIA >> From his former teammates to the venue, forward P.J. Tucker enjoyed the memories on his first trip to Wells Fargo Center since the Sixers traded him and James Harden to the Los Angeles Clippers.
“Everything from the playoffs after coming here to that energy to just every day knowing the people here,” Tucker said. “Knowing all the guys that park the cars, the locker room attendants, everything, it’s just all the memories. It’s just automatic. It’s great. It’s amazing just to see people, especially when you had a good time and you enjoyed playing in this city and for that team.”
Harden meanwhile thought he was misunderstood and undeserving of the reception he got from Sixers fans.
“I expected it,” Harden said. “I really don’t know what it’s about, but I expected it. So it is what it is. I don’t even know why they were booing. You can ask them. I don’t know why they were booing. I think I did a lot. I had a very impactful positive impact on a lot of people. I’m grateful for those relationships. I’m grateful for the opportunity and things like that. Those are things that I can cherish and move on with. Everything else doesn’t matter.”
The Clippers checked in as the fourth seed in the Western Conference but were just 7-7 in March. On this night the they got well as Kawhi Leonard contributed a couple of big and-1’s down the homestretch and Paul George ruggedly mirrored Kelly Oubre on the last shot, which replays showed was a bang-bang call. No foul was called.
“Listen, I think he took it in there pretty hard,” Sixers coach Nick Nurse said of Oubre.
In November the Sixers dealt the disgruntled Harden, Tucker and Filip Petrusev to the Clippers for Marcus Morris, Robert Covington, Nic Batum, KJ Martin, a 2028 unprotected first-round pick, two second-round picks, a 2029 pick swap and an additional first-round pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder.
With the 38-year-old Tucker, along with Harden (34), who produced 16 points and 14 assists Wednesday, Leonard, 32, who had 17 points and nine boards, George, 33, who had 22 points and 10 rebounds and Russell Westbrook, 35, the Clippers are the golden oldies of the NBA. Yet the geezers proved they still had enough left in the tank.
Harden in 64 games with the Clippers averaged 17.1 points. 8.5 assists and 5.1 boards this season. He was a key piece on the Sixers’ squad that earned a 3-2 lead over the Celtics in the playoffs, only to blow it in Game 7, costing Doc Rivers his job. Harden forced a trade a few months after calling Sixers president Daryl Morey a “liar,” an insult that earned the veteran player a $100,000 fine.
Harden was demonstrative when asked if he’d ever patch things up with Morey.
“No,” Harden said. “Hell no.” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue wasn’t concerned about Harden going out of body to prove anything to Sixers fans, who booed him during the introductions, almost each time he touched the ball and on every missed shot. The crowd cheered when he collected a foul.
“I think we’re definitely locked in,” Lue said. “We understand the task at hand. I just focus on what James has done for us, and he’s been really good . ... ”