James Harden scores his 25,000th level, leads streaking Clippers previous slumping Warriors 121-113
LOS ANGELES — James Harden scored his 25,000th profession level whereas racking up a season-high 28 factors, 15 assists and 7 rebounds, and Kawhi Leonard added 27 factors and eight rebounds within the Los Angeles Clippers‘ sixth straight victory, 121-113 over the slumping Golden State Warriors on Thursday night.
Norman Powell scored 10 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter for the Clippers, who overcame Paul George’s first harm absence of the season for his or her eleventh win in 14 video games. Los Angeles adroitly held off the Warriors‘ late surge and improved to 5-0 at home in December.
“That’s what James does,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue mentioned. “PG was out tonight, so (Harden) raised his level of play. Having the ball more, he had to create more and make more plays for himself and his teammates. That’s what we brought him here for, and it was a huge game from him.”
Harden turned the twenty fourth participant in NBA historical past to attain 25,000 factors on a driving layup late within the third. The veteran has slot in shortly with the Clippers, taking pictures a robust proportion whereas adjusting his general sport to suit alongside Leonard and George, who sat out with a left hip harm.
“Doesn’t matter if I got two points or (28) tonight, winning is the key,” Harden mentioned. “The stats and everything – I’ve done a lot of different things, accomplished a lot of different individual stats. For me, it’s about winning, about building chemistry, about continuing to get better, and I think tonight was another step forward for us as a unit.”
Klay Thompson scored a season-high 30 whereas hitting eight 3-pointers for Golden State, which went 0-3 on its street journey and has misplaced 12 of 16 general in a tumultuous season that acquired even rockier this week.
Stephen Curry scored 17 factors on 5-of-17 taking pictures because the Warriors started one other probably prolonged stint with out Draymond Green, who’s indefinitely suspended after smacking Phoenix’s Jusuf Nurkic within the face on Tuesday.
“It was tough, because Draymond is a huge part of what we do, and we’re going to miss him dearly,” Thompson mentioned. “We know he’s going to come back even better, a changed person. I’ll miss him just as a friend and a brother. Love him to death, and I can’t wait until he comes back. Obviously there’s a big hole on our team right now, but we’re going to do the best we can in his absence and keep playing our hardest.”
Before the sport, Golden State coach Steve Kerr emphasised the staff’s help for the suspension and for Green, who shall be getting unspecified assist to deal with his escalating latest cases of misbehavior and overly aggressive play. The four-time NBA champion and defensive whiz has been suspended 4 instances in 2023 alone.
“He can’t do what he’s been doing, and he knows that,” Curry mentioned. “We know that. Everybody knows that. What needs to change, I think that’s the search for the answer. That’s the journey that we’re on now. … Everybody has their mountains to climb, and Draymond’s are his, and I’m confident that he can get over the hump, however long it takes for him to get there.”
Both groups shook up their common beginning lineups as a result of key absences. Golden State promoted Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski to switch Green and Andrew Wiggins, whereas Amir Coffey moved into George’s beginning function.
Podziemski had 4 factors on 2-for-11 taking pictures within the rookie’s first profession begin, whereas Kuminga scored 15 factors in his second begin of the season.
Thompson is off to a quiet begin, however the veteran sharpshooter placed on a classic efficiency in his native Southern California. He hit 4 3-pointers within the third quarter to maintain the Warriors in it, however Curry and Thompson mixed for 1-for-7 taking pictures within the fourth.
Chris Paul scored 12 factors towards his former staff for the Warriors, who’ve misplaced seven straight street video games, together with two this month to the Clippers. Paul was additionally whistled for a Flagrant Foul 1 within the second quarter when he knocked down Daniel Theis with a two-hand shove whereas blocking out underneath the Clippers rim.
Paul hit a 32-footer on the third-quarter buzzer to trim the Clippers‘ result in six factors, and the Warriors acquired inside one early within the fourth quarter earlier than promptly going scoreless for the subsequent three minutes.
UP NEXT
Warriors: Host the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday.
Clippers: Host the New York Knicks on Saturday.
