NBA regular season action continued with the Clippers hosting the Hawks. Both teams were looking to bounce back from two consecutive losses. In this game, James Harden returned from injury, and the Clippers' star Kawhi Leonard made his season debut. Six Atlanta players, including Jalen Johnson, Larry Nance Jr., and Bogdan Bogdanovic, were sidelined due to injuries. The two strong teams engaged in a fierce battle. The matchup between top-tier guards James Harden and Trae Young, as well as how Leonard would perform in his comeback game, were the main attractions of the match. For this game, Tyronn Lue adjusted the lineup, starting with Harden, Leonard, Powell, Zubac, and Dunn, while Derrick Jones Jr. came off the bench.
Throughout the game, the Clippers dominated, with Harden finishing with 10 points, 15 assists, and 2 steals in just three quarters. Leonard, in his return after 253 days, scored 12 points with 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal in 19 minutes. Zubac had an explosive performance with 18 points, 18 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block. The Clippers' four key shooters—Norman Powell, Derrick Jones Jr., Terance Mann, and Porter—also stepped up, contributing significantly to the victory.
The Clippers won the game 131-105, handing the Hawks their third consecutive loss. Notably, this was Harden's ninth win in as many career matchups against Trae Young. The Clippers' bench also played a significant role, with eight players scoring a total of 69 points, a season-high for the team.
