INGLEWOOD, Calif. — — James Harden scored 34 of his 41 points in the first half as the Clippers destroy the Utah Jazz 144-107 on Monday night.
After struggling the past two games where Harden combined to score just 20 points total against the Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves. He bounced back with a vintage performance to help end the Clippers’ three-game losing streak.
Harden got it going early with 24 points in the first quarter to help give Los Angeles an early 44-20 lead after the first period.
He finished the night shooting 11-17 from the field including 7-11 from 3. He also went 12-14 from the charity stripe and dished out six assists.
“He’s a worker,” coach Tyronn Lue said of Harden, “and when you’re playing 35, 36 minutes a night, you got to as you get older, which you don’t like hearing me say, but you got to be able to tailor it back a little bit. Don’t overwork yourself because there’s a lot of games, a lot of minutes,”
“He works hard every single day and (we are) just trying to get him to pick his spots where he can cut back and do less because he is playing a lot of minutes in these games and so we just want to make sure he is healthy all the way through, and he’s been doing a good job with that.”
Norman Powell chipped in 29 points as the entire starting lineup combined to score 117 of the team’s 144 points. Each starter score 12 or more points.
The blowout win was key as it allowed veterans like Harden and Powell to get some much needed rest as they prepare for their three-game road trip.
Up next, the Clippers travel to Dallas for a doubleheader with the Mavericks on Thursday and Saturday night.
