Philadelphia 76ers Dismantles Los Angeles Clippers Behind Tyrese Maxey’s 29 Points
In a game that had plenty of surprising headlines surrounding it off the court, the Philadelphia 76ers rattled off their fourth straight win as they thrashed the short-handed Los Angeles Clippers in a 128-113 final on Monday night.
Sixers Get Surprise Performance in the Win
While Tyrese Maxey was the star of the game for the Sixers as the two-time All-Star scored a team-high 29 points in the win, it was a Dominick Barlow masterclass that gave the Sixers an unexpected boost on offense. The NBA journeyman had the best outing of his career against the Clippers, finishing with a huge double-double of 26 points and 16 rebounds to help lift Philadelphia to the easy win. Barlow also gave the Sixers life on the defensive end, racking up 2 steals and a block in a tremendous two-way performance.
The entire Sixers offense would be firing on all cylinders, as Philadelphia drained 17 threes at an efficient 44% in the win. The Sixers would also see five players finish in double figures, with three of their starters in Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Barlow, each finishing with over 20 points.
Philadelphia’s defense also played a major role in the win, as the Sixers scored 22 points off the Clippers’ 14 turnovers to help build their insurmountable lead. The Sixers went up by as much as 23 points, which also included an impressive 72-point outing in the first half.
Clippers Offense Stays Hot Despite Harden’s Absence Amid Trade Reports
Although the Clippers would get both a tremendous offensive performance from the team and another solid outing from superstar Kawhi Leonard, the biggest story is the bombshell report of Clippers star guard James Harden, who is now on the trading block. This breaking news was first reported by ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, who stated in her latest article that the Clippers and Harden show a mutual interest in trading the nine-time All-Star to a contender before the trade deadline.
The article also states that both the Clippers and Cavaliers are in serious discussions about swapping Cavs star Guard Darius Garland for the future Hall of Famer. Harden missed the last two games for the Clippers due to personal reasons, according to the team. Harden currently possesses veto power over any trade, as the former MVP is technically under a one-year deal with the Clippers. Harden had signed a two-year $81.5 million deal this past offseason, with a player option set to trigger following this season.
This report also comes as a surprise of sorts, since Harden has stated earlier this season that he feels “blessed” to be back in his hometown of Los Angeles in the twilight years of his career. If Harden is ultimately traded away, his next landing spot will be his sixth NBA team, following stints with the Thunder, Rockets, Nets, Sixers, and now Clippers. Los Angeles acquired Harden in free agency back in 2023.
Updated NBA Standings
Following their win in LA, the Sixers remain in a prime position to further move up the Eastern Conference, as Philadelphia now sits just a game and a half behind the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 5th-place spot. The Cavaliers are currently tied with the Toronto Raptors for the 4th seed in the East.
The Sixers will get their chance to close that gap on Tuesday night, as they’ll face off against the Golden State Warriors on the second night of their back-to-back. That game will represent the second game of Philadelphia’s five-game road trip on the West Coast.
For the Clippers, their loss against Philadelphia puts them three games back of the Warriors for the 8th seed in the Western Conference standings. This loss also represented their seventh loss in the last 27 games, as the Clippers have risen from the bottom of the West after a dreadful 6-21 start to the season. Los Angeles will have a day off before their next tilt against the Cleveland Cavaliers at home on Wednesday night.
