Boom 39+3+6! I will always respect Harden, Maxi confessed affectionately after the game, the 76ers did make a miscalculation

The 76ers narrowly defeated the Clippers 110-108, and Philadelphia ushered in a focus game full of emotional entanglements at home, where Harden was once a member. The game itself was full of ups and downs. The 76ers once fell behind by 10 points in the second quarter, but relied on the amazing explosion of Maxey and Grimes in the second half to complete the reversal and finally took away the victory with a 2-point advantage. What's even more touching is that this game allowed people to once again see the grievances between Harden and Philadelphia that were constantly being cut and messed up, and they also saw Maxi's pure and passionate respect for this "big brother". Harden did die standing, and he didn't owe the Clippers any more.

Today's first half belongs to Harden. He used his trademark step-back three-pointers, foul shots and precise passes to punish his old team time and time again, leading the Clippers to build a double-digit lead. At that moment, Harden seemed to have returned to his peak period in Philadelphia in the 2022-23 season, even with the Nets. His eyes were full of desire to prove himself. However, 36 minutes of high-intensity playing time in the second back-to-back game still caused the 36-year-old's physical fitness to plummet. In the second half, Harden felt cold and his defensive fitness could not keep up. He made only 7 of 25 shots from the field and 2 of 12 three-pointers, full of veteran sadness.

On the defensive end, Harden was overwhelmed by Maxey and the 76ers' young backcourt. But he tried his best throughout the game and scored 28 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks, plus 12 free throws. Unfortunately, he lost the game in the end. Maxi, who won the game, became the brightest star in the game. In 41 minutes, he made 13 of 27 field goals, 4 of 11 three-pointers, and 9 of 10 free throws. He scored 39 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists, almost tearing apart the Clippers' defense by himself. At the last moment of the game, when the final whistle sounded, the camera captured a touching scene: Maxi rushed to Harden immediately, grabbed his arm tightly and refused to let go, with a smile on his face and wanted to reminisce, like a child who had not grown up.

Although Harden forced a smile, he was obviously depressed, with loss written in his eyes. Two teammates who used to get along day and night, one is a high-spirited new player in his playing years, and the other is a veteran who has been labeled as "abandoned by Philadelphia". This contrast is embarrassing. After the game, Maxi made no secret of his admiration and gratitude for Harden in an interview. He said emotionally:

"We still maintain frequent contact, and I really respect Harden. His attitude towards training is extremely hard. I have witnessed with my own eyes that he is in the gym every day and The sweat he put into the arena. His love for basketball comes from the heart, and I learned so much from him. He is not only my teammate, but also my big brother."

Maxi's affectionate confession made countless fans break their defenses instantly. Many people think of the 2022-23 season. It was Harden who took the initiative to cut his salary and renew his contract, and gave up the team's salary space to Tucker, Harrell and others, which allowed the 76ers to form that seemingly luxurious lineup. It was also Harden who sacrificed the ball rights time and again in the playoffs and acted as a nanny for Embiid and Maxi, which allowed the young Maxi to grow rapidly. But in the 2023 offseason, the 76ers management chose to "burn bridges". In order to avoid taxes and save money, they refused to offer Harden a four-year maximum salary, and even made various delays and delays in trade negotiations. In the end, Harden was forced to publicly denounce Morey as a "liar" and sadly left the team.

A year later, the 76ers spent $212 million over four years to sign Paul George. The result? George made his comeback debut tonight, and his state was so dismal that it was jaw-dropping: in 21 minutes of play, he made 2 of 9 shots and felt cold, with a plus-minus of -9, which was the lowest in the starting lineup. The offensive end was completely unable to integrate into the system. In contrast, Harden, who was traded to the Clippers, although he is 36 years old, can still average 25+5+8 per game this season and can still carry the team at critical moments. What's even more ironic is that Embiid has now completely become the "glass man emperor", and his attendance rate is so low that the Big Three that the 76ers spent a lot of money to build can often only make up one and a half of them.

If the 76ers had given Harden a four-year contract of about 160 million yuan instead of coveting that little money, perhaps today's story would be completely different: the combination of Harden + Embiid + Maxey would at least have the ability to compete in the Eastern Conference. Maxey would not have to play more than 40 minutes in each game, and Harden would not have to fight until his physical fitness is exhausted in the second game of back-to-back. Now, George's contract with three years left has become a hot potato. The 76ers are unable to trade and cannot do without his salary space, completely falling into a dilemma. The game was won, but Philadelphia fans may not be happy. They saw Maxi hugging Harden and seeing Harden's lonely back, and suddenly realized: what the team let go was not just a 36-year-old veteran, but a loyalty, a mentoring relationship, and a future that could have been more brilliant. Harden is gone, and Maxey is still growing, but the time when Philadelphia was closest to competing for a championship will never come back.