James Harden makes feelings clear about Celtics showdown after Bulls trounce Clippers
A disappointing loss to the Chicago Bulls on Monday left the LA Clippers with plenty to think about moving forward. James Harden was obviously concerned after a lopsided defeat at the hands of a sub-.500 Bulls team, and made his feelings clear about what lies ahead.
With the mighty Boston Celtics next on the schedule for the Clippers, Tyronn Lue's team know they will have their hands full. Asked about the upcoming game against the defending champions, Harden summed up his mood with a compact two-line response:
"I'm not looking toward nobody. We just got whooped at home by the Bulls.”
The mood would have been low in the Clippers' locker room after a stunning loss where Los Angeles were outscored 36-16 in the third quarter.
Chicago came into the game on a five-game losing streak after defeats to the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets and Portland Trail Blazers over the last week. To make matters worse, the Clippers seemed to be turning their season around with a four-game win streak going into Monday's game.
James Harden finished the game with a double-double, recording 17 points and 10 assists. The Clippers defense, however, was unable to withstand an impressive shooting display from Zach LaVine. He finished with 35 points on 11-of-21 shooting from the field.
The Celtics will visit the Intuit Dome for the late game on Wednesday night. Boston is coming off an impressive 40-point road win against the Golden State Warriors, and will be eager to continue their hot streak against the Clippers.
James Harden passes NBA legend to move up to 14th in the NBA's all-time scoring list
A move to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2023 saw James Harden join his fifth NBA franchise. Over his career, Harden has been one of the most effective offensive player in the league, and the 35-year-old continues to put up exceptional numbers in his 16th year in the NBA.
Against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, Harden hit a historic milestone, surpassing legendary guard Oscar Robertson in the NBA's all-time scoring charts. Harden overtook former Atlanta Hawks star Dominque Wilkins last week, and moving ahead of Robertson takes him to No. 14 on the scoring list.
James Harden currently has 26,721 points to his name. He will have his eye on Hakeem Olajuwon, who sits above him with 26,946 points. In order to break into the top 10, Harden will have to catch up with Carmelo Anthony, who recorded 28,289 points over his career.