INGLEWOOD, Calif. — James Harden showcased a brilliant performance by scoring an impressive 50 points, marking his 24th career game scoring at least 50 points and his first with the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers secured a 123-115 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night. Harden was exceptional in the first quarter, notching 23 points and concluding the game with the eighth 50-point outing in the team’s history, the most recent since Lou Williams achieved it on January 10, 2018, against Golden State.
Supported by a stellar team effort, Bogdan Bogdanovic contributed 23 points, while Ivica Zubac added 22 points and 11 rebounds. The Clippers managed this win despite missing key players Kawhi Leonard, who was sidelined due to a knee issue, and Norman Powell, out with a hamstring injury, during the second night of consecutive games.
Detroit’s Cade Cunningham put in a valiant effort with 37 points and 10 assists, yet the Pistons suffered only their second defeat in a span of 12 games.
Key Takeaways: The Pistons, experiencing their most fruitful run since the 2007-08 season, achieved a shooting accuracy of 52% but witnessed their two-game winning streak come to an end. Meanwhile, the Clippers broke a challenging stretch where they had lost consecutively in three games and six out of their last seven, including a collapse against Phoenix on Tuesday, with Harden’s commanding performance proving crucial.
Pivotal Moment: Midway through the fourth quarter, with the Clippers trailing by two, Bogdanovic made two consecutive 3-pointers and effectively drew an offensive foul. This shift in momentum was followed by Harden scoring the next four points, leading a dominating 10-0 run to establish a 107-99 lead.
Noteworthy Statistic: Harden etched his name alongside Bob McAdoo, World B. Free, and Lou Williams as the only players in Clippers history to achieve at least four 40-point games in a single season.
Upcoming Games: The Pistons are set to face Golden State on Saturday, while the Clippers will be hosting New York on Friday.
