Harden torches Jazz in lopsided win

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – James Harden has been unreal all season long for the LA Clippers, and it was more of the same in their 144-107 win over the Utah Jazz. Harden scored 24 points in the first quarter on 5-7 shooting from three while also drawing fouls on two more three-point attempts.

Harden outscored the Jazz by himself in the opening quarter by four points. The game was never close, and the former NBA MVP and three-time scoring champion was able to sit for the entire fourth quarter.

“James offensively was dynamic tonight. 41 points on 17 shots, you don’t see that a lot. He was making his shots, getting to the free throw line, and we need every bit of it,” said Ty Lue.

Despite not seeing the floor for the game’s last twelve minutes, Harden still scored over 40 points for the second time this season.

The offense runs through Harden, and at 35 years old, he is still one of the most effective offensive weapons in the league. He is the system, and right now, the system is a well-oiled machine.

“(James) is a worker. When you are playing 35 or 36 minutes a night, as you get older, you have to be able to tailor it back a little bit. Don’t overwork yourself because it is a lot of games and a lot of minutes, but he knows his body and he works hard every single day. I am just trying to get him to pick his spots where he can cut back and do less,” said Lue. “We just have to make sure he is healthy all the way through, and he has been doing a good job with that.”

LA continues to impress in their first season in the Intuit Dome even without Kawhi Leonard (who should return within the next few weeks). The win brings their record to 15-12, which puts them right in the middle of the Western Conference playoff race.

This franchise would be in a much different position had they not traded for James Harden just over a year ago.

Lead Photo Caption: INGLEWOOD, CA – DECEMBER 3 : LA Clippers guard James Harden (1) shoots from the free throw line during the Portland Trail Blazers vs Los Angeles Clippers on December 03, 2024, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire)


Discover more from News4usonline

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Discover more from News4usonline

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading