James Harden put on a stellar performance, scoring 40 points—17 of them in a dominant third quarter—as the Los Angeles Clippers secured a 127-117 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday in Inglewood, California.
Harden, who also tallied nine assists, led the Clippers’ charge with a game-changing 14-0 run in the fourth quarter, turning a 100-98 deficit into a commanding 112-100 lead. Harden scored the final six points of that surge and added crucial baskets down the stretch to seal the win.
Clippers’ Balanced Effort
Norman Powell was instrumental with 33 points, while Kawhi Leonard added 18 points in just 24 minutes, his season high, as he continues to play under a minutes restriction following knee soreness. Ivica Zubac chipped in a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
The victory capped a grueling stretch of five games in seven days for the Clippers, who managed a 3-2 record during that span.
Bucks’ Standouts
Despite the loss, Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered another strong outing with 36 points and 13 rebounds, while Damian Lillard recorded his fifth career triple-double, finishing with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Gary Trent Jr. contributed 19 points, Taurean Prince added 14, and Brook Lopez scored 13 for Milwaukee, whose five-game winning streak came to an end.
Game Highlights
The game was tightly contested early, with the first quarter ending in a 28-28 tie. Milwaukee held a narrow 59-58 lead at halftime, thanks to an 11-point advantage at one stage, while the Clippers struggled with 36.5% shooting in the first half.
Harden caught fire in the third quarter, scoring the Clippers’ final 15 points in the period to give Los Angeles a slim 94-93 edge heading into the final frame.
In the fourth quarter, Antetokounmpo scored six consecutive points to bring the Bucks within eight at 114-106 with just over five minutes left. However, the Clippers responded with a 7-2 run, highlighted by Harden’s three points, to extend their lead to 121-108.
Harden capped his night by hitting the 40-point mark on a free throw with 2:31 remaining, as the Clippers pulled away for good.
The Bucks, who began a four-game road trip with this game, never managed to close the gap to single digits in the closing minutes.