CHICAGO — The Los Angeles Clippers managed a hard-fought victory over the Chicago Bulls, finishing with a scoreline of 122-117 on Wednesday night. James Harden showcased an impressive performance by sinking seven 3-pointers and racking up 30 points for the Clippers.
Kawhi Leonard returned to action, contributing 17 points and grabbing eight rebounds after sitting out two consecutive games due to soreness in his left foot. Amir Coffey also shone brightly, adding 20 points and helping the Clippers break their streak of three losses.
Not to be overlooked, Derrick Jones Jr. added 16 points, while Bogdan Bogdanovic was highly effective beyond the arc, hitting 4 out of 5 3-pointers and ending with 14 points. This victory allowed the Clippers, standing in the sixth position, to edge half a game ahead of Minnesota in the Western Conference playoff standings.
For the Bulls, Zach Collins delivered an outstanding performance, hitting season highs with 21 points and 17 rebounds. Meanwhile, Josh Giddey contributed significantly with 21 points and 12 assists. Coby White chipped in 19 points; however, Chicago couldn’t avoid their seventh defeat in the last eight games.
The Clippers were without key scorer Norman Powell, who missed his fourth game in a row due to a sore left knee. On Chicago’s side, Nikola Vucevic sat out for the second consecutive game suffering from right calf tightness, and Ayo Dosunmu missed his third match due to issues with his left shoulder.
Takeaways from the game highlight the importance of Leonard’s health to the Clippers’ playoff aspirations. Wednesday marked only his 17th appearance this season after missing the first nine weeks because of a right knee injury. The Bulls showed resilience, managing to stay in contention every time it seemed the Clippers might run away with the game.
A decisive moment occurred in the third quarter when Harden exploded with 20 points, including five 3-pointers, leading to a 98-93 edge for the Clippers. The 11-time All-Star later nailed a crucial 3-pointer with just 14 seconds left on the clock, securing the win at 120-114 and snapping Los Angeles’ three-game losing streak.
From the game’s key stats, Los Angeles executed effectively from long range, draining 19 of their 37 attempts from beyond the arc. Looking forward, the Clippers have a pivotal duel against LeBron James and the Lakers on Friday and Sunday, while the Bulls will host Toronto on Friday.
