James Harden reached his 25,000th career point and achieved a season-high of 28 points, along with 15 assists and seven rebounds. Kawhi Leonard contributed 27 points and eight rebounds in the Los Angeles Clippers’ sixth consecutive win of 121-113 over the struggling Golden State Warriors on Thursday night.
Norman Powell secured 21 points, with 10 coming in the crucial fourth quarter, aiding the Clippers in overcoming Paul George’s absence due to injury. Coach Tyronn Lue commended Harden for elevating his game in the absence of George, stating that Harden’s ability to create plays for himself and teammates was a significant factor in the victory.
Harden, now the 24th player in NBA history to reach 25,000 points, emphasized the importance of team success over individual stats. He expressed satisfaction with the team’s progress and chemistry.
Klay Thompson scored a season-high 30 points for the Warriors, who faced a challenging road trip and extended their overall losing streak to 12 out of 16 games. Stephen Curry, with 17 points, struggled with shooting efficiency, starting another period without Draymond Green, who was suspended indefinitely.
The Warriors’ coach, Steve Kerr, supported Green’s suspension, emphasizing the need for a change in Green’s behavior. Curry expressed confidence in Green’s ability to overcome challenges.
Both teams adjusted their starting lineups due to key player absences. The Warriors started Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski in place of Green and Andrew Wiggins, while the Clippers had Amir Coffey in George’s starting role.
Thompson showcased his scoring prowess in his native Southern California, hitting four 3-pointers in the third quarter. However, the Warriors struggled in the fourth quarter, with Curry and Thompson combining for 1-for-7 shooting.
Chris Paul contributed 12 points against his former team, but the Warriors couldn’t overcome their road game struggles, losing their seventh straight away game, including two to the Clippers this month.