Harden Scores 50, Nears Kobe’s Record, Obama in Attendance

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — James Harden delivered a spectacular performance by scoring 50 points on Wednesday night, showcasing his skills in the Clippers’ new arena. This achievement marks the first time Harden has reached the 50-point benchmark with Los Angeles, adding the 24th such game to his impressive NBA career, putting him just behind Kobe Bryant, who holds 25 such performances.

The Clippers’ victory over the Detroit Pistons, ending with a scoreline of 123-115, coincided with the presence of former President Barack Obama, who was seated near Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. Harden mentioned a longstanding rapport with Obama and expressed his excitement about his attendance, “It was pretty cool to see him at the game,” Harden remarked, suggesting that this might have inspired his performance.

This season, Harden has already clocked three 40-point games but was yet to touch the 50-point milestone, reminiscent of his scoring peak when he was the NBA scoring champion on three occasions with the Houston Rockets from 2017-2020.

Harden’s performance was timely for the Clippers, who were recovering from a setback after blowing a 23-point advantage against Phoenix. The Clippers also faced the game without Kawhi Leonard and Norman Powell due to the back-to-back scheduling. Harden ensured a steady lead for the team by scoring 23 points in the first quarter alone, concluding the game by hitting 14 of 24 shots, including six 3-pointers and 16 out of 20 free throws.

Playing 38 minutes, Harden assured fans of his capability to handle the game pressure despite being 35 years old. “I can do it. It’s not like it’s my first time,” he stated confidently.

Holding the record for the highest number of 50-point games is Wilt Chamberlain with 118, followed by Michael Jordan at 31, and Kobe Bryant with 25. While Bryant is known for his scoring prowess in Los Angeles, Harden’s recent performance in the Intuit Dome was a standout moment and fittingly conducted in advance of the NBA All-Star Game set to be hosted at the venue next season.

This was also the eighth 50-point game in the Clippers’ history, the last one being Lou Williams on January 10, 2018, against Golden State. Harden now joins an elite group of players, including Williams, Bob McAdoo, and World B. Free, who achieved at least four 40-point games in a season for the franchise.

Despite the noteworthy performance, Harden did not manage to capture a photo with Obama following the game. “He left,” Harden noted with a smile, “I guess he wanted to beat the traffic.”