The Clippers knew their top-notch defense would be stretched by a Milwaukee Bucks team led by NBA All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo. They knew their stellar defense would be tested by one of the best-shooting teams in the NBA, a squad riding a five-game winning streak.
The Clippers were resolute in the face of those challenges, with James Harden and Norman Powell combining for 73 points in an impressive 127-117 win over Milwaukee on Saturday at the Intuit Dome.
“Just keeping our composure, being down 11 early, fighting back, finding ways to win the game,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “…James was spectacular. He got us off to a good start in that first quarter, late in that first quarter and then in the third and fourth he was huge. Norm was good down the stretch as well.”
Harden scored 17 of his game-high 40 points in the third quarter, his hot shooting helping the Clippers open a one-point lead heading to the fourth. Harden, who scored 11 points in the fourth quarter and finished nine assists, is one of six players in the NBA to have three or more 40-point games this season.
“It was time to go, time to go,” Harden said. “Time to try to be more assertive in this game, and got it going.”
Powell was on the attack all game, scoring 33 points. It was his eighth game of 30-plus points this season, a career best. He had 14 points in the fourth quarter, helping L.A. pull away.
“We all stuck together,” Powell said. “Up, down calls. No calls. Whatever it was, nobody was hanging their heads. Everybody was rooting each other on … and we dug deep. It started defensively.”
Kawhi Leonard continued to play limited minutes in his return from a knee injury, scoring 18 points on eight-for-17 shooting in 24 minutes.
Antetokounmpo lived up to the billing of being one of the league’s best players, who entered the game second in scoring (31.3 points) and fifth in rebounding (12.0). He had 36 points and 13 rebounds and went 11 for 13 from the free-throw line.
Damian Lillard had a triple-double with 29 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. He was 16 for 17 from the line.
The win capped a 3-2 week for the Clippers (26-19), with their victory over the Bucks (25-18) being the most impressive of the stretch.
“I guess like you guys [in the media] pretty much seen the back-and-forth of the game, staying composed,” Leonard said. “Staying composed with Giannis and Lillard getting to the line. They score the ball very well and easily. And just battling those moments out and coming out of our timeouts and executing. Like I said, James and Norm playing tremendous one-on-one basketball.”