LOS ANGELES — Ty Lue left the Clippers’ locker room just after 3 p.m. local time Sunday, then turned right down the hallway for his postgame news conference.
Harden’s departure came after he totaled 12 points on 5-of-13 shooting and 14 assists against the 76ers, but only two points in a second half reminiscent of his key-game fades while in Philly. His old team, meanwhile, put together arguably its best performance since Joel Embiid was sidelined following early-February knee surgery.
Added Lue: “I’m not sure how he’s going to react, but we’re just happy to have James with everything he’s done here for us. I’m not quite sure what happened in Philly.”different occurred amid those media sessions, in a hallway where both teams’ locker rooms are located steps away from each other and loosely separated by curtains. Just before 11 a.m., P.J. Tucker, the other prominent player sent to the Clippers in the blockbuster deal, caught up with Sixers staffers.
Still, Maxey described a competitive Harden throughout the game, including “one possession where I boxed him out, and I think he put me in a chokehold,” he quipped. The Sixers guard also playfully trash-talked with Tucker, who missed the game with calf soreness.“There were a couple times I went over there and, like, just messed with his socks,” Tucker said. “Miss those guys, really. … I’m glad they’re happy here.