James Harden added another achievement to his illustrious career on Friday night, as he scored his 25,000th point in the NBA and led the Los Angeles Clippers to a 121-113 victory over the Golden State Warriors.
Harden, who joined the Clippers in a blockbuster trade earlier this season, reached the milestone with a four-point play in the final seconds of the game, sealing the win for his team and snapping a six-game losing streak. He finished with 24 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, shooting 8-of-11 from the field and 4-of-6 from beyond the arc.
James Harden reaches 25,000-point milestone
Harden became the 46th player in NBA history to score 25,000 points, and the ninth active player to do so. He also moved past Elgin Baylor and Dwyane Wade on the all-time scoring list, ranking 44th with 25,008 points.
“It’s a great accomplishment, but I’m not satisfied,” Harden said after the game. “I have a lot more to give to this game and to this team. I’m just trying to get better every day and help us win a championship.”
Harden’s teammates and coaches praised his performance and his milestone, as they celebrated their first win with him on the court. The Clippers had lost six straight games since acquiring Harden from the Houston Rockets, as they struggled to integrate him into their system and adjust to his playing style.
“He’s a special player, one of the best to ever do it,” said Kawhi Leonard, who had 26 points and eight rebounds for the Clippers. “He’s been working hard to fit in with us and we’ve been working hard to fit in with him. Tonight, we saw what he can do. He made big shots, he made plays, he defended. He was the difference maker.”
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue also lauded Harden’s impact and his leadership, as he helped the Clippers overcome a 15-point deficit in the third quarter and outscore the Warriors 41-26 in the final period.
“He’s a winner, he’s a competitor, he’s a champion,” Lue said of Harden. “He’s been through a lot this season, with the trade and the criticism and the expectations. But he never gave up, he never complained, he never made excuses. He just kept working and kept believing. And tonight, he showed why he’s one of the best players in the world.”
The Warriors, meanwhile, suffered their fourth consecutive loss and fell to 8-6 on the season. They were led by Stephen Curry, who had 33 points and nine assists, and Andrew Wiggins, who had 22 points and seven rebounds. However, they could not contain the Clippers’ offense, which shot 54.7 percent from the field and 45.2 percent from three-point range.
“We didn’t play well enough to win,” Curry said. “We had some good stretches, but we also had some breakdowns defensively and offensively. We have to be more consistent and more focused for 48 minutes. We know we’re better than this, but we have to prove it on the court.”
The Clippers improved to 5-7 on the season and moved up to 10th place in the Western Conference standings. They will look to build on their momentum when they face the San Antonio Spurs on Monday. The Warriors will try to snap their skid when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday.
According to the web search results, James Harden’s career high score in a game is 61 points123. He achieved this feat twice, once against the New York Knicks in 2019 and once against the San Antonio Spurs in 20201. He also tied Kobe Bryant for the record for the highest score by a visiting player at Madison Square Garden3. Harden is currently ranked 44th on the NBA all-time scoring list with 25,008 points14.
