CHICAGO — In a high-energy contest, James Harden showcased his sharpshooting skills by draining seven 3-point shots, contributing to his 30-point total, and leading the Los Angeles Clippers to a 122-117 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night.
Kawhi Leonard’s return to action was notable as he added 17 points and secured eight rebounds after missing previous games due to a sore left foot. Meanwhile, Amir Coffey provided a solid effort with 20 points, playing a crucial role in helping the Clippers snap their three-game losing streak.
For the Clippers, Derrick Jones Jr. delivered 16 points, while Bogdan Bogdanovic was effective from the perimeter, making four out of five three-point attempts and ending with 14 points. This victory allowed the Clippers, who are placed sixth in the Western Conference, to edge ahead of Minnesota by half a game.
On the other side, Chicago saw a standout performance from Zach Collins, who achieved season highs with 21 points and 17 rebounds. Additionally, Josh Giddey contributed 21 points along with 12 assists, and Coby White chipped in with 19 points, though the Bulls continued to struggle, marking their seventh loss out of the last eight games.
The absence of Clippers’ top scorer, Norman Powell, who sat out his fourth consecutive game due to a sore left knee, and Chicago’s Nikola Vucevic, who missed his second game owing to right calf tightness, along with Ayo Dosunmu who missed out again with a sore left shoulder, highlighted the physical demands on the players.
From a strategy perspective, having Kawhi Leonard back on the court is crucial for the Clippers if they aspire for a deep playoff run. Wednesday marked just Leonard’s 17th appearance this season following his recovery from a right knee injury that kept him out for the initial nine weeks.
The game remained competitive with Chicago consistently challenging Los Angeles whenever the Clippers appeared ready to pull away. Harden’s explosive third quarter, where he posted 20 points along with five successful three-pointers, allowed the Clippers to maneuver into a narrow lead of 98-93. His late-game heroics with a clutch three-pointer at 14 seconds left secured the victory at 120-114, stopping the Clippers’ slide of losses.
From a statistical standpoint, Los Angeles demonstrated an impressive performance from beyond the arc, successfully converting 19 of their 37 three-point attempts.
Looking ahead, the Clippers are scheduled to face off against LeBron James and the Lakers on both Friday and Sunday, while the Bulls prepare to host Toronto on Friday.
