The Clippers had lost six of their last seven games and had fallen to ninth in the Western Conference standings entering Wednesday’s game vs. Detroit. They were also missing top scorer Norman Powell. So James Harden‘s 50-point outburst, which helped the team snap a three-game losing streak, was a welcome sight.
As Law Murray of The Athletic writes, it was Harden’s first 50-point game since December 2019 and the first time a Clipper had achieved the feat since Lou Williams in January 2018.
“To see him come out and score 50 on (the second night of) a back-to-back at the age of 35 just says a lot about him and competing every night,” Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue said after the victory. “Playing 38 minutes again on a back-to-back, but we needed every bit of it.”
It was a vintage performance for Harden, who set new personal season highs by making 14 field goals and getting to the free throw line 20 times. After leading the NBA in points per game for three straight years during his time in Houston, Harden has become more of a facilitator and a secondary scoring option in his mid-30s, but he made it clear on Wednesday he’s still capable of big scoring nights.
“I can do it, you know,” Harden said. “It’s not my first time. So somebody who has done it for the first time, it probably takes a lot of energy. For me, it’s just understanding the game. That’s the game within the game.”
Here’s more from around the Western Conference:
- Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga won’t return on the team’s current road trip after all, having been ruled out for Thursday’s game in Brooklyn, tweets Anthony Slater of The Athletic. Kuminga, who has been out since January 4 due to a right ankle sprain, has been scrimmaging and there was a sense he might return at some point during Golden State’s five-game trip. But with the team on a tear, having won of seven of eight games, there’s certainly no need to rush him back.
- Pelicans second-year guard Jordan Hawkins is still bothered by the back pain that sidelined him earlier this season, but he has adjusted to playing through it and has been more effective as of late, writes Rod Walker of NOLA.com. Hawkins put up 14.8 points per game on 47.9% shooting (36.7% on three-pointers) during the team’s recent four-game road trip, well above his season-long averages. “He’s playing more consistent where he has more consistent minutes,” head coach Willie Green said. “He understands what his role is when he steps on the floor. This is a part of his growth.”
- One month removed from the February 6 trade deadline, a panel of writers for The Athletic – Jovan Buha, Sam Amick, Christian Clark, and Anthony Slater – check in on where things stand in the Western Conference. The group largely agrees that the Warriors have improved most in the short term and the Lakers have improved most in the long term as a result of their deadline moves. However, three of the four panelists still view the Nuggets as the best bet to knock off the Thunder for a spot in the NBA Finals this spring.
I hope it’s not too early to mention this, but thinking of the playoff seedings, I think the Warriors need to secure the fourth or fifth seed rather than the sixth.
If things sit as they are or close to it, I would not want to play the Nuggets AND the Lakers in the two and three seed.
I’d rather face the thunder because I think they are vulnerable and still youngish. As I’ve said a couple times, they are too SGA reliant.
I may be alone with that thought, but going through Denver and the Lakers is to me a way more difficult path. Thoughts?
Houston and Memphis are struggling. So, the 4th seed is possible.
Hopefully, Kuminga has been studying Butler’s game. He could learn a lot by model his game after Butler.
I think anyone that knows the Warriors agrees with you. They haven’t won a game against the Nuggets since the 2022 1st round series, and haven’t beat the Lakers yet this season (0-3, and that’s before tough matchup Doncic). While they’re 2-1 vs OKC.
4 would be fantastic, and actually could be doable.
getting home court is big in the playoffs just to get the Refs on your side. In the playoff they let teams play more physical so its much tougher against bigger teams like the Nuggets who has an advantage.
I can see GSW finishing 2nd if the Lakers cool off soon, if not, they will likely finish 3rd or 4th due to their very weak schedule for the rest of the season.
I am not scared of anyone but Joker in the playoffs. SGA already showing he isn’t really Him and is more of an Ant-man type who annihilates bad teams and is just okay vs the good ones, whereas Steph/Jimmy/Dray can annihilate all comers at all times.
That is being very optimistic. Best I see them getting to is 4th seed and that would mean everything goes right for them and other teams go on a huge losing streak.
Even though the Knicks were missing KAT, that game proved to me that Steph will stand up when necessary in the way only He can.
The Warriors schedule is the weakest of all contenders, they shouldn’t lose many more games from here on out as long as the injury bug does not hit them. That L vs Phily was disgusting. Should never have happened, Kerr is bad at his job. He did not get them focused and locked in, which is his job.
That’s a dumb comment. If a player is not focused and locked, they don’t belong in the NBA. It a part of their job description. It is not the job of the Head Coach. Do you really believe that Steph has ever needed a Coach to get him focused?
Not sure why I can’t reply to your earlier post about GSW finishing as high as 2nd. Lakers and Nuggets are essentially tied, 8 games ahead of GSW.
With only 20 games left, that’s too many to make up (with 2 other teams currently higher, the Grizzlies and Rockets) and the Twolves likely to move up as they get healthy.
I think 5 and possibly 4 is doable if no one gets hurt.
Harden: ““I can do it, you know. It’s not my first time. For me, it’s just understanding the game. That’s the game within the game.”
Translation: “I’ll foul bait my way to TWENTY FTA’s”
Is that a Harden quote or a Jimmy butler quote?
Both !!
Harden shot 20 last night. Jimmy’s highest this season is “only” 17
Guess Harden is the better player
You misspelled “flopper”.
Fine Jimmy butler is also good at flopping
Out since Jan 4 for ankle sprain. Is a long time. Make sure you are right. Will need him for playoffs.
I was Kuminga. I’d become Jimmy’s best friend.
Harden’s big game bought up another insane Curry stat:
Most times of 5+ 3’s a game:
1. S Curry 381 times in 1009 games played
2. J Harden 200 times in 1131 games played
1 almost doubles 2…/head explode gif
I think in playoffs the Warriors are going to struggle against the bigs.. having Hartenstein makes OKC so much stronger..Denver as long as they have Jokic are going to be tough for any team… Lakers looking good but also questionable with defending bigs. I would be looking at OKC vs Denver west final.. with Lakers and then perhaps Wolves or Warriors as outsiders.
East looks like Cavs vs Celts but Knicks have a deep solid squad and as an outsider, the Pacers ..
Bring on the playoffs
50 points and 16 travels. A true double-double.
I feel like we are seeing the last of Kuminga in Golden State
Why do you believe that?
Yes ryan I believe so too. Been saying it for a while that I think he wants way more money than he’s worth.
Either the league agrees with me and the Warriors will sign him for a lot less than that max request or the Warriors will sign and trade JK to a team who thinks his potential is yet untapped.
Of course the Warriors could get creative and do some kind of bridge thing with an opt out. That’s a prove it to me 2 year deal or something? We’ll see.