76ers fall 108-107 in James Harden’s return, Become latest victims of Ref-Ball

For once it seemed like today everything, both on and off the court was going to go right for the 76ers. I think I speak for most if not all of the 76ers fans when I say that that hasn’t happened in months. But apparently, the number 1 rule of Philadelphia over the past 2 years is that 2 good things can’t happen at once.

Let’s start with the good news that came out of today. When asked about Joel Embiid‘s possible return timeline Nick Nurse finally gave us something about a possible return date. “I think there is a very good likelihood that he will return before the play-in playoff,” Nick Nurse said when asked about when the reigning MVP will return to play. With 9 games left on the 76ers’ schedule and a playoff race only getting more heated, Embiid’s return will do wonders for the 76ers who are statistically one of the best teams in the NBA with him on the court.

Now for the game. James Harden‘s return to the Wells Fargo Center with boos raining down from every corner any time he so much as touched the ball. Things started off great, the 76ers’ defense was lockdown I even made a note to myself talking about how it felt like on every single possession the Sixers were a step faster than the Clippers and were dominating. The defense was relentless allowing just 18 first-quarter points. I mean things were going so well Tobias Harris was even playing great with 9 of the 30 Sixers points.

Unfortunately, the Clippers’ big 3 were going to wake up eventually and they did in the 2nd quarter dropping 28 points led by James Harden with 9. The Sixers kept pace with the Clippers, but the offense took a step back with just 20 points. After a half of play, it looked like the 76ers once again had the Clippers number.

A 76ers dominated 1st quarter, mainly a Clippers dominated 2nd quarter led to a back-and-forth showdown of great basketball in the 3rd quarter. For the first time all game each offense was firing at full force going blow for blow in a contest of “whatever you can do I can do better.” Each team dropped 29 with the Clippers led by PG with 8 points, and the 76ers led by a red-hot Buddy Hield with 10 points.

12 minutes left to go, a 3-point ball game, and the crowd is bringing the heat, this should’ve been a great ending for pure basketball purposes. Then it happened. I’m not quite sure what this city did to deserve this, but the final quarter of this game was some of the most disgusting officiating I’ve ever seen. The refs were practically spoon-feeding the Clippers easy points off of terrible calls. It culminated in a jump ball that found its way into the hands of Kelly Oubre. Now let’s lay out a scenario, You are down 108-107 the ball is in your hands to win the game, do you; A: Shoot a relatively open midrange shot to try and win it. B: Pass the ball to someone else. Go head down and run straight into Paul George and not even get a shot off. If you said C there is something wrong with you and you are also correct!

This loss is crucial for the 76ers trying to claw their way out of the play-in tournament. The 76ers are sitting at the 8 seed behind the Heat for 7th, and more importantly the Pacers for 6th. If there is one positive to take out of this it’s that after the Thunder the schedule gets a lot easier for the 76ers. Especially with the possibility of Embiid returning, the only team in the playoffs after OKC is the Magic.

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