by 
The Clippers returned home after a four-game road trip with a 2-2 record, and despite all the hard work it took to get those results, they had to face one of the best talents in the NBA, Denver’s supernatural center Nikola Jokic.
So the challenge for coach Tyronn Lue on Sunday night and his team’s stingy defense was finding a way to deal with Jokic, who entered the game averaging a triple-double with 29.7 points per game. game (fourth best in the league), 13.1 rebounds. (first in the league) and 10.6 assists (second best in the league).
The Clippers couldn’t stop Jokic from another one of his signature triple-doubles, but Los Angeles withstood the MVP’s dominance to earn a 126-122 win over Denver thanks to James Harden’s all-around play and a comeback from 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. Making six of 15 three-pointers, Harden made 3,004 three-pointers in his career, becoming only the second player in NBA history to make more than 3,000 three-pointers. Golden State’s Stephen Curry (3,810) has the most in league history.
“Another one of those accomplishments you never take for granted,” Harden said. “Just the amount of work I put in, counting the days and nights I worked, a lot of people don’t see it, but the results are happening. So, I’m just grateful.
To make the night even better at Intuit Dome, it was Harden’s two free throws with 8.6 seconds remaining 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 of the second half, but we needed him. He made all 10 of his free throws in the fourth quarter, largely scoring 23 points in the final 12 minutes.
He’s 35 now and in his 16th NBA season and has been hitting his stride this season. But Harden has started to figure it out when the Clippers need him most
“I feel 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 longer to get acclimated, especially since my role has changed. I haven’t been in this role for four or five years. So it’s going to take me a little while to get there.
Harden even brought out one of his signature moves that he made famous when he was putting up MVP numbers in Houston, performing his dribble routine, an ankle-breaking move that sent the defender flying Denver Peyton Watson back.
Harden then drilled the step-back jumper, then his pot move was stirred.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Harden said when asked about his throwback move. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
After being out for nearly two weeks and 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 boost for the Clippers.
“He was a little rusty, as far as his layups and his attacks,” Lue said. “But I thought his three-pointer was really good and I thought as the game went on 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 his 2-of-7 scoring on three-pointers.
“I thought we did a good job of just trying to keep his size, keep Zu on him, match him minute by minute for the most part,” Lue said of keeping the Clippers 7-0 center , Ivica Zubac, on the 6-11 Jokic. “And then take away his three. The last game we played them, he hit seven threes and he’s hitting at a high rate this year.
Etc…
Clippers backup point guard Kevin Porter Jr. was out with a sprained ankle. Lue said “that might be the case” when asked if Porter might be out for a while. “I know he’s out tonight. We’ll know more tomorrow once we’ve run some tests. Porter is averaging 8.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 18.7 minutes per game…Lue was asked if, going into the season, did the Clippers expect Kawhi Leonard misses the first 22 games of the season with a right knee injury. “No, I didn’t expect that,” Lue said.
Sign up for the LA Times SoCal high school sports newsletter to get scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.
This story was originally published in the Los Angeles Times.
