On Thursday night at the Intuit Dome, the Los Angeles Clippers secured a valuable 123-115 victory against the Detroit Pistons. One of the key factors in this win was the impressive performance of James Harden, who poured in 50 points and played a crucial role in keeping the team competitive as they approach the final stretch of the season. After the game, the guard delivered a message for the rest of the NBA.
Interviewed on the court by FanDuel Sports Network’s Kristina Pink, Harden was asked about the heavy minutes load he has been shouldering lately in every Clippers game, as well as the possibility of taking a break. However, the 35-year-old star interrupted her with a decisive message: “I’ll rest when the season’s over.”
In the midst of a season that has been uneven for the Clippers—marked by stretches where they were firmly in playoff contention, juxtaposed with other times, like this one, when they are fighting to remain in Play-In Tournament positions—James has been essential to the team’s efforts.
With Kawhi Leonard having missed the first half of the season and now returning cautiously to avoid further risk, Harden has assumed the responsibility of leading the team, averaging 34.8 minutes on the court per game this year. On Wednesday against Detroit, he exceeded that number, playing 38 minutes just 24 hours after facing the Phoenix Suns in Arizona.
“Knowing we had a lot of guys out, which made me a little more aggressive,” Harden said of his 50-point, 5-assist, 4-rebound performance against the Pistons. “Aggressive in scoring and making plays.”
Tyronn Lue reflects on Harden’s impact
Tyronn Lue was asked about Harden’s remarkable performance during the post-game press conference, and he did not hold back in his praise for his star player. “To see him come out and score 50 on a back-to-back, at the age of 35, just says a lot about him and competing every night and playing 38 minutes again on a back-to-back,” the head coach said. “But we needed every bit of it.”
Breaking down Harden’s strengths that led to his stellar performance against Detroit, Lue explained: “He was getting right into his shots, getting to his spots, not over-dribbling. Just getting to his spots, and when he’s making his step-back three—of course, he can get to the free-throw line, he can get to the basket—but when he’s making his three, it’s a tough cover.”
Harden is on a mission
James Harden holds a remarkable record in the NBA: since his debut season in 2009-10, he has always been in the playoffs. This includes every team he has been part of, from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, and Los Angeles Clippers.
This season, however, the task is far from simple. Until a few weeks ago, the Clippers were sitting in sixth place in the Western Conference, but a rough patch has left them in eighth place with a 33-29 record—just one win behind the Golden State Warriors, who currently hold the final playoff spot. Harden will need to continue delivering performances like Wednesday’s to keep his team’s playoff hopes alive.