
USA Today via Reuters
Dec 2, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (1) moves the ball up court against the Golden State Warriors during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

USA Today via Reuters
Dec 2, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (1) moves the ball up court against the Golden State Warriors during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
James Harden has had a purple patch for the ages in the past few weeks. After a disastrous losing streak to begin his Los Angeles Clippers stint, a breakout run of success has set things straight for the ex-MVP. Now, to add the icing on the cake, the 34-year-old has reached 25,000 points for his career, becoming only the 24th ever to do so. However, his day only got better from there.
Not only did the Clippers manage to win a hard-fought battle against the Golden State Warriors, but Harden himself had a night to remember. From a season-high outburst of 28 points and a career milestone, the 10x All-Star had it all. To top this off, Harden has now joined the 4x MVP LeBron James in an elite list.
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James Harden joins LeBron James in elite company
James Harden’s incredible outing against Stephen Curry and Co. came with some remarkable rewards. The Clippers star tallied a total of 28 points, 15 assists, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks, and a steal in the matchup. This very stat line is something he now shares with just one player in NBA history – LeBron James.
James Harden tonight:
28 PTS
15 AST
7 REB
4 BLK
1 STLHe joins LeBron James as the only two players in NBA history with this line or better in a single game.
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) December 15, 2023
LeBron James is known for his elite all-around play on the court. This stat line is just another demonstration of the Los Angeles Lakers forward’s legendary versatility. James Harden, too, has now displayed a similar skill, becoming the only player alongside The King to record such a stat.
READ MORE : LA Curse Continues to Haunt Stephen Curry and the Warriors
After a historic outing of this sort, it is clear that the ex-MVP still has it in him to go off on any given night. But given the Clippers’ current position in the Western Conference, this ability of his of utmost importance.
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The Beard’s purple patch sugarcoats a major struggle
James Harden may have had a night to remember in the Crypto.com Arena but the Clippers star still has a lot left on his plate. His team is placed 7th in the Western Conference despite boasting of 4 future Hall of Famers. Harden too, has not had the best of seasons, only averaging 16.6 PPG, which is his lowest since 2012.

USA Today via Reuters
Nov 10, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; LA Clippers guard James Harden (1) and LA Clippers forward Paul George (13) react against during the second half against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
The Beard will have to sustain his form in the past few games to ensure the team does not fall below its current position. To make a push to the playoffs while avoiding the dangerous Play-In Tournament, Harden and his troops will have to consistently put up the kind of outings they did against the Warriors.
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With Paul George’s injury, a dark fear awaits the Los Angeles-based franchise. However, Harden’s form combined with Kawhi Leonard’s extraordinary run provide a sense of hope. Can the Clippers storm into the playoffs and further with this duo? Do the Clippers need more help? Let us know in the comments below.
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