CHICAGO — The Los Angeles Clippers emerged victorious against the Chicago Bulls with a 122-117 win on Wednesday night, powered by James Harden’s remarkable performance. Harden electrified the court by sinking seven 3-pointers and racking up 30 points, leading the Clippers back to their winning path after a three-game losing streak.
Kawhi Leonard, who returned to action following a brief hiatus due to a sore left foot, contributed significantly with 17 points and eight rebounds. Amir Coffey added a solid 20 points to fortify the Clippers’ offense. Derrick Jones Jr. contributed with 16, while Bogdan Bogdanovic, with an impressive 4 out of 5 from beyond the arc, chipped in 14 points, propelling the Clippers to move half a game ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference standings.
For the Bulls, Zach Collins stood out by setting personal bests for the season, scoring 21 points and capturing 17 rebounds. Josh Giddey was another pivotal player for Chicago, delivering 21 points alongside 12 assists. Coby White joined the scoring effort with 19 points, yet these efforts were insufficient to prevent the Bulls from suffering their seventh defeat in eight games.
Plagued by injuries, the Clippers missed their leading scorer, Norman Powell, for a fourth consecutive game due to a sore left knee. Meanwhile, Chicago’s Nikola Vucevic sat out his second game owing to tightness in his right calf, and Ayo Dosunmu missed his third with a sore left shoulder.
Observations revealed the imperative need for a healthy Leonard if the Clippers are to advance further in the postseason. After missing the first nine weeks due to a right knee injury, this matchup was a mere 17th appearance of the year for the two-time NBA champion. Conversely, the Bulls showed resilience, maintaining pressure whenever the Clippers seemed poised to dominate the game.
A pivotal moment unfolded in the third quarter when Harden erupted with 20 points, including five 3-pointers, steering Los Angeles to a 98-93 lead. In a decisive final act, Harden nailed another 3-pointer with merely 14 seconds remaining, sealing the win with a 120-114 advantage.
The Clippers exhibited stellar long-range prowess, successfully making 19 of their 37 attempts from 3-point range.
Looking ahead, the Clippers will face the Los Angeles Lakers in their upcoming games on Friday and Sunday, while the Bulls prepare to host the Toronto Raptors on Friday.
