Harden: Clippers 'have bigger problems' than 76ers return

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden is more focused on his team's struggles than his return to Philadelphia on Wednesday.

"I don't know, and I don't care," Harden said when asked how he'd be greeted in his Sixers return, according to The Athletic's Law Murphy. "We have bigger problems than me worrying about Philadelphia."

The Clippers have dropped their last two contests and six of their last nine, recording the second-worst defensive rating at 123.1 during that span. L.A. has gone 8-10 since the All-Star break.

The 44-27 Clippers sit a half-game ahead of the New Orleans Pelicans for fourth in the Western Conference.

Harden is averaging 17.1 points, 8.6 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and a steal in 64 games since joining L.A.. The veteran guard was traded to the Clippers in October from the Sixers after a lengthy trade request stemming from the summer.

Over the offseason, the 34-year-old called team president Daryl Morey "a liar" after he didn't receive a long-term max extension. He was fined $100,000 for his comments and missed the end of training camp and preseason before the trade.

Harden and the Clippers hosted his former team in L.A. on Sunday. He recorded 12 points and 14 assists in a loss.