Inglewood, California — James Harden recorded his 79th career triple-double, contributing 17 points, 13 assists, and 12 rebounds in a commanding 110-93 victory for the Los Angeles Clippers over the struggling Washington Wizards on Thursday night.
With this achievement, Harden moved past the legendary Wilt Chamberlain, now ranking eighth on the all-time triple-double list in NBA history.
Leading the scoring for the Clippers was Norman Powell, who netted 22 points, with 14 of those coming in the final quarter. Derrick Jones Jr. also made a significant impact with 19 points. Kawhi Leonard, playing 24 minutes, added 15 points and seven rebounds before resting for the remainder of the game to manage his recovery from knee surgery.
For the Wizards, Jordan Poole was the standout performer, tallying 24 points along with nine assists. This loss marks the Wizards’ 12th consecutive defeat and drops their record to a dismal 1-19 on the road and 6-37 overall this season.
In the fourth quarter, Washington briefly closed the gap to a 12-point deficit with a 3-pointer from Kyle Kuzma. However, the Clippers swiftly responded with a 10-0 run, mostly thanks to Powell, to secure their lead.
In terms of overall performance, the Wizards had five players scoring in double figures but struggled to maintain momentum throughout the game. Their only notable scoring stretch was an 8-0 run, initiated by two consecutive turnovers from the Clippers, though they still fell behind by 19 points.
On the other hand, this game saw the return of the Clippers’ key players, who had been inactive in their previous overtime loss to the Boston Celtics, the reigning NBA champions.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when the Clippers surged ahead with a 19-4 run at the start of the second quarter, including five successful 3-pointers, establishing a commanding 25-point lead. They further extended the margin to 27 points with a basket from Jones in the third period.
An impressive statistic from the match revealed that the Clippers achieved 29 assists on 40 made field goals, showcasing their strong teamwork and offensive efficiency.
Looking ahead, the Wizards are scheduled to visit the Phoenix Suns on Saturday, while the Clippers will host the Milwaukee Bucks.
