The Clippers returned home from a four-game trip with a 2-2 record, and for all of the hard work it took to earn those results, they had to face one of the NBA’s best talents in Denver’s otherworldly center Nikola Jokic.
So, the challenge for coach Tyronn Lue on Sunday night and his team’s stingy defense was figuring out a way to deal with Jokic, who entered the game averaging a triple-double with 29.7 points per game (fourth best in the league), 13.1 rebounds (first in the league) and 10.6 assists (second best in the league).
The Clippers could not stop Jokic from delivering yet another of his signature triple-doubles, but L.A. withstood the MVP’s dominance to pull out a 126-122 win over Denver behind the all-around play from James Harden and the return of Norman Powell and the offense he brought with him.
For Harden, who had 39 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds, it was a night for him to reach an NBA milestone. By going six-for-15 from three-point range, Harden has 3,004 made threes over his career to become just the second player in NBA history to have more than 3,000 three-pointers made. Golden State’s Stephen Curry (3,810) has the most in league history.
“Another one of those accomplishments that you never take for granted,” Harden said. “Just the amount of work that I put in, counting those days and nights that I put the work in that a lot of people don’t see it, but the results happen. So, I’m just thankful.”
To make it an even better night at Intuit Dome, it was Harden’s two free throws with 8.6 seconds left that sealed the deal for the Clippers and allowed them to beat the Nuggets for the second time this season.
Harden played 38 minutes and 25 seconds. He played all 24 minutes in the second half, but he was needed. He made all 10 of his free throws in the fourth quarter, a big part of him scoring 23 points in the final 12 minutes.
He’s 35 now and in his 16th NBA season and has eased his way into this season. But Harden has started to pick it up when the Clippers need him the most
“I’m feeling a lot better,” Harden said. “My legs are starting to….For an older guy in this league, 16 years in this league, it takes me a little more time to get acclimated, especially that my role has changed. I haven’t had this role in four or five years. So, it’s just going to take me some time to get there.”
Harden even brought out one of his signature moves he made famous when he was putting up MVP numbers in Houston, going through his dribbling routine, a breaking the ankles move that set Denver defender Peyton Watson flying backwards.
Harden then drilled the step-back jumper and then his stir the pot move.
“I don’t know what you are talking about,” Harden said when asked about his throw-back move. “I don’t know what you are talking about.”
After being out almost two weeks in missing six games with a left hamstring injury, Powell had 28 points.
He made all five of his free throws in the fourth quarter, which was another big lift for the Clippers.
‘He was a little rusty, as far as when he got in the paint on his layups and attacking,” Lue said. “But I thought his three-point was really good and I thought as the game went along, he kind of found his rhythm and got going. He was huge for us.”
In many ways, it was just another typical night for Jokic, who had 28 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists.
His flaws were the five turnovers and going two-for-seven from three-point range.
“I thought we did a good job of just trying to keep size on him, try to keep Zu on him, match him minute for minute for the most part,” Lue said about keeping Clippers 7-0 center Ivica Zubac on the 6-11 Jokic. “And then take away his threes. The last game we played them he made seven threes and he’s shooting it at a high clip this year.”
Etc…
Clippers backup point guard Kevin Porter Jr. was out with a sprained ankle. Lue said “it could be” when asked if Porter could be out for a while. “I know he’s out tonight. We’ll know more tomorrow once we do some testing.” Porter averages 8.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists over 18.7 minutes per game… Lue was asked that when the season started did the Clippers expect Kawhi Leonard to miss the first 22 games of the season with a right knee injury. “No, I didn’t expect that,” Lue said.