PHILADELPHIA — James Harden and the short-handed Clippers found themselves on the wrong end of another tight game.
Harden scored 28 points and logged another career milestone on Monday night, but the Clippers squandered a 10-point fourth-quarter lead and lost to the Philadelphia 76ers, 110-108, coming up short at the final buzzer for the second time in as many days.
Tyrese Maxey scored 39 points and Paul George had nine points and seven rebounds in his season debut to lead the 76ers. Quentin Grimes added 19 points and Andre Drummond had 14 points and 18 rebounds while filling in for Joel Embiid. Rookie VJ Edgecombe added 14 points.
Harden became the 11th NBA player to eclipse 28,000 career points with a first-quarter layup but misfired on two 3-point attempts in the final seconds as the Clippers lost for the eighth time in nine games. Harden missed a potential game-tying 3-point shot at the buzzer in their 121-118 loss in Boston on Sunday afternoon.
Harden, who has been logging hefty minutes while carrying the team of late, shot 7 for 25 from the field (2 for 12 from 3-point range) on Monday, but he made all 12 of his free throws to go with six rebounds, five assists (with four turnovers) and two blocked shots in 28 minutes.
Ivica Zubac had 14 points and 13 rebounds and Clippers rookie Kobe Sanders, making his first start, provided a career-high 17 points.
Forward Derrick Jones Jr. sat out after spraining the MCL in his right knee in Sunday’s loss at Boston – he’ll be sidelined for at least six weeks. The Clippers also were without star forward Kawhi Leonard (ankle/foot sprain) for the seventh straight game and have already lost veteran guard Bradley Beal to a season-ending injury (fractured hip).
The Clippers controlled the first 3½ quarters and led 91-81 with 8:44 left on Zubac’s 10-footer. But Philadelphia used a 14-3 run over the next 2:49, capped by Maxey’s layup, to go in front 95-94. The game remained close from that point.
Harden made three free throws with 4:38 left to put the Clippers ahead by two. Edgecombe, Grimes and Maxey responded with 3-pointers in the next 2½ minutes to give the 76ers a 108-104 lead.
Drummond made two free throws to put the 76ers ahead 110-106 with 1:08 left. Sanders made a pair of free throws with 13.8 seconds left to pull the Clippers within two before officials whistled Kris Dunn for a foul on Maxey. But that was overturned to a steal by Dunn after a challenge by the Clippers, giving them a chance to tie or win with 11.7 seconds left.
Harden then misfired on a pair of contested 3-point shots in the final seconds.
Harden dominated the first quarter, scoring 17 points as the Clippers took a 33-25 lead after 12 minutes.
In the second quarter, the 76ers used a 13-4 run to get within 44-43 on Dominick Barlow’s basket with 2:50 remaining. The Clippers reeled off a dozen points in the final 2½ minutes, including Brook Lopez’s 3-pointer in the waning seconds, that sent the Clippers into the locker room ahead 56-46 at halftime.
Harden cooled off in the third quarter (2-for-10 shooting), while Maxey scored 13. Both teams scored 27 points in the third, which left the Clippers ahead by 10 heading into the fourth.
The margin remained at 10 with under nine minutes left when Grimes’ driving basket and Drummond’s lay-in got the 76ers within 91-85. On Philadelphia’s next two possessions, Maxey made a 3-pointer and converted a three-point play to make it 94-91 with 6:52 left.
Shortly thereafter, Maxey’s drive to the hoop gave the Sixers their 95-94 lead, their first advantage since the opening minutes of the game.
George sat out the first 12 games while recovering from offseason left knee surgery. The nine-time All-Star played 21 minutes and shot 2 for 9 from the field.
Embiid (right knee injury management) sat out for the third straight game and the eighth time in 13 games this season. In addition to Embiid, the 76ers were missing Kelly Oubre Jr. (left knee sprain) and UCLA product Adem Bona (right ankle sprain).
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The Clippers play at Orlando on Thursday at 4 p.m. PT.