Harden scored 12 of his 39 factors in additional time to steer his Clippers to a 124-119 win over the Golden State Warriors. That secured the No. 5 seed within the Western Convention, whereas a loss would have despatched the Clippers into the play-in event.
The Clippers received that far because of a late-season surge that noticed them win their remaining eight video games as a part of an 18-3 near the season. Throughout these remaining 21 video games, Harden led his crew with 26.2 factors and eight.9 assists whereas capturing 39.7 p.c on 8.3 makes an attempt per sport. That is a powerful end for a 35-year-old who has confronted questions on his health and conditioning all through his profession.
Philadelphia did not wish to give Harden a long-term extension in the summertime of 2023. after Harden held out, Philadelphia despatched Harden and P.J. Tucker to L.A. for a first-round choose, two first-round choose swaps and a package deal of gamers that included Nicolas Batum. Final summer season, the Clippers gave Harden a long-term contract whereas the 76ers signed free agent Paul George away from the Clippers.
Harden made the All-Star crew this season, after a yr deferring to George and Kawhi Leonard as a scorer, along with his scoring common dropping to 16.6. The Clippers completed fourth and misplaced to the Dallas Mavericks within the first spherical, whereas the 76ers ended up seventh within the East, successful the play-in however shedding within the first spherical.
This season, Harden upped his scoring to 22.8 PPG, attending to the foul line for 7.3 free throws per sport and taking part in 79 video games. Against this, George performed solely 41 for the 24-58 Sixers. As a part of their offseason revamp, Philly let Batum go, and he returned the play 78 video games and shoot 43.3 p.c from three-point vary for the Clippers.
Future draft picks are good to have, however not on the expense of lacking the championship window of your star, which is what Philadelphia crew president Daryl Morey has executed with Joel Embiid. By ready out a holdout by Ben Simmons to commerce for Harden, solely to have Harden himself maintain out one yr later left Embiid short-handed throughout his prime. Now with George and Embiid dogged by accidents, their time as title contenders might have handed.
What would possibly sting the Sixers much more than Harden’s continued excellence is the profession revival Simmons has skilled as a Clipper. He is been a wonderful backup guard, averaging 6.8 assists per 36 minutes, with a 4:1 assist-to-turnover ratio, whereas racking up steals and blocks on protection.
