‘AMAZING’ HARDEN ERUPTS
JAMES Harden was labelled “amazing” by Houston coach Mike D’Antoni after erupting in a fourth-quarter scoring spree to lead the Rockets to a 102-93 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.
Harden led the scoring with 47 points, including seven three-pointers, while the former NBA MVP also added six rebounds and seven assists.
The Houston talisman plundered 17 points late in the fourth quarter to help transform an 84-80 deficit with 5min 52sec remaining into victory. “It’s not like we haven’t seen it before, and we’ll see it again,” Rockets head coach D’Antoni said.
“He’s amazing. He’s just a master of the game. It’s what I expect. He’s a special player, no doubt about it.”
Harden shouldered the bulk of the Rockets’ offensive duties, with Russell Westbrook (17) and Clint Capela (12) the only other Houston players to score double figures.
The Clippers were led by Kawhi Leonard, who had 26 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists.
The Rockets improved to 8-3, leaving them hard on the heels of the Los Angeles Lakers, who cruised to a blowout 120-94 win over the injurydecimated Golden State Warriors.
The Warriors, who reached five consecutive NBA Finals from 2015-2019 have endured a nightmare start to the season, with a long-term injury to Stephen Curry depleting a squad already attempting to adjust from the loss of Klay Thompson (knee) and departure of Kevin Durant to the Brooklyn Nets.
The Lakers were in no mood to show the Warriors any mercy at the Staples Center yesterday, LeBron James scoring 23 points and Kyle Kuzma 22 in a comfortable win.
In the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics improved to 9-1 to remain on top of the table after a 140-133 defeat of the Washington Wizards.
Kemba Walker had 25 points in an impressive allround scoring display by the Celtics, who saw seven players reach double digits.
In Orlando, Nikola Vucevic scored 25 points as the Magic jolted the Philadelphia 76ers with a 112-97 victory.
The Sixers, playing without the injured Joel Embiid, fell to 7-4 after the loss while Orlando improved to 4-7.
In Portland, reigning champion Toronto Raptors eased past the Trail Blazers after another superb display from Pascal Siakam.