With players constantly in and out of the lineup, the Clippers are struggling to find consistent success at this stage of the season.
The return of Kawhi Leonard (right knee management) and Derrick Jones Jr. (right groin strain) coupled with the absence of Norman Powell (right hamstring strain) and Ben Simmons (left knee management) on Friday night underlined the scope of the issue.
But the Clippers have been able to count on one thing all season — James Harden‘s high level of play.
Two nights after scoring 50 points, Harden put on another show, finishing with 27 points and seven assists in a 105-95 victory over the New York Knicks at the Intuit Dome.
Harden wasn’t alone in spearheading the win. Leonard had 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists in 37 minutes, and Ivica Zubac finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds. The standout center has a career-best 763 rebounds this season.
“It was big-time. We need everybody,” Leonard said. “That’s how you win basketball games. One or two players just can’t do it. It’s a collective unit and we’re going to need everybody going forward.”
Nicolas Batum, starting in only his fourth game, had a season-high 17 points. Bogdan Bogdanovic had a career-high 12 rebounds off the bench and scored all eight of his points in the fourth quarter.
“Just trying to play smart basketball,” Bogdanovic said. “Trying to get ready for the end of the season. That’s what is the most important part and everybody understands that. We need everybody.”
New York’s Jalen Brunson did not play because of a right ankle sprain. The All-Star guard, injured in Thursday night’s overtime loss to the Lakers, ranked seventh in the NBA in scoring (26.3 points per game) and seventh in assists (7.4). Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks (40-23) with 23 points and 10 rebounds and Mikal Bridges finished with 22 points.
The Clippers (34-29), who outscored the Knicks 26-17 in the fourth quarter, have won two in a row since dropping six of seven. They are eighth in the Western Conference with 19 games left.
“Just take it day by day,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said before the game. “Our shootarounds, our walk-throughs and just taking advantage of those, even though guys can’t go full speed a lot of times. But, like I said, we are behind, and I think the guys are doing the right thing trying to get back, trying to get on the court but also putting the work in trying to understand and learn what we need to do and get better at.”
The Clippers face a critical stretch of games. They play host to Sacramento on Sunday, with the Kings just half a game behind them, before playing New Orleans, Miami and Atlanta on the road.
“All these games are important for us,” Leonard said. “I was telling the guys in a sense this is going to make or break us, because we are playing a lot of competitive teams. Teams are in the playoffs or trying to make that playoff push and if we win these games, I think it will help us in the playoffs. If we don’t, we’ll most likely be out. So, it’s time to lock in to each and every game and see what we can do.”