NBA regular season continues, and the Clippers faced a back-to-back matchup today. Leonard was absent, and they were playing away from home, but the Clippers maintained their fiery form. They took a 10-point lead in the first quarter and continued to win points in each subsequent quarter. Ultimately, under Harden's leadership, the Clippers defeated the Trail Blazers 118-89, securing not only a winning streak but also creating a unique NBA record for the 21st century, making Harden's $70 million contract seem like a bargain.
The home team, the Trail Blazers, were in poor form. Simmons missed all nine of his shots and scored no points throughout the game. Kamara also went 0-for-5, scoring zero points. Henderson started and contributed 16 points, 2 rebounds, and 6 assists. Sharp played steadily, delivering 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. Center Ayton performed moderately, scoring 14 points and grabbing 7 rebounds. Bench player Banton exploded, efficiently scoring 23 points and 3 rebounds, but unfortunately, the starters dug too deep a hole, and the team was quickly overwhelmed.
On the Clippers' side, Leonard rested during the back-to-back games, and Powell stepped up, shooting 7-for-12 and scoring 23 points with 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Dunn made contributions on the defensive end, scoring 7 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists. Little Jones was very efficient, scoring 13 points and grabbing 4 rebounds. Center Zubac performed well, easily scoring 10 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Reserve player Coffey delivered 10 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists, while Mann also scored 14 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. The team fought as one, winning with ease.
Harden, the team leader, also performed steadily. He played 29 minutes, shooting 7-for-16 and scoring 19 points with 2 rebounds and 6 assists. Notably, the Clippers won by 29 points against the Trail Blazers today. In yesterday's game against the Nets, the Clippers completely dismantled the Nets, scoring 126 points and limiting the Nets to just 67 points, winning by a massive 59 points. This way, the Clippers set a 21st-century NBA historical record, winning by a combined 88 points in back-to-back games, becoming the only team in the 21st century to achieve this feat.
Last summer, the Clippers renewed Harden's contract with a hefty $70 million deal over two years. As a 35-year-old veteran, Harden has shown some decline, leading many fans to say that the contract was overpriced. However, this year, Harden has proven the contract to be a steal with his actions. So far this season, Leonard has only played four games, while Harden has averaged 21.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 8 assists, with a shooting percentage of 40%. He has excelled in both scoring and organizing, currently leading the Clippers to a 23-17 record.
Before the season began, outsiders said that without Leonard, Harden would not even be able to lead the team into the playoffs. Now, not only are they ranked fifth in the West, but they have also achieved a unique record for the 21st century, making that $70 million contract an excellent investment.