James Harden dropped 50 points as the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Detroit Pistons 123-115 on Wednesday night. This marks Harden’s first 50-point game with the Clippers (33-29) and the 24th of his career. Harden’s performance helped the Clippers bounce back after losing three straight games.
The Clippers were without Kawhi Leonard (knee) and Norman Powell (hamstring) on the second night of back-to-back games, but Harden led the way with a stellar outing. He scored 23 points in the first quarter and finished the night with 14 field goals on 24 attempts, including six 3-pointers. His 50-point performance is the eighth such game in franchise history, the first since Lou Williams’ 50-point effort against Golden State in 2018.
Bogdan Bogdanovic added 23 points for Los Angeles, while Ivica Zubac contributed 22 points and 11 rebounds. Despite the absence of key players, the Clippers’ depth proved essential in securing the win.
Cade Cunningham of the Pistons (35-28) had a strong performance of his own, finishing with 37 points and 10 assists. However, Detroit couldn’t close out the game, snapping their two-game win streak.
The game was competitive throughout, with Detroit leading by two midway through the fourth quarter. However, Bogdanovic hit consecutive 3-pointers and drew an offensive foul, which helped spark a 10-0 run for the Clippers. Harden finished the run with four consecutive points, putting Los Angeles up 107-99, and they never looked back.
Harden’s remarkable game also saw him join an exclusive club in Clippers history. He became one of just four players to record at least four 40-point games in a season for the franchise, joining Bob McAdoo, World B. Free, and Lou Williams.
Detroit, who shot 52% from the field, couldn’t overcome the timely shooting and defensive stops by the Clippers. Despite a strong offensive outing from Cunningham and a solid 14 points from Malik Beasley, Detroit was unable to keep pace in the final minutes.
