James Harden scores 30 as red-hot Clippers pick up their fifth straight win

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Clippers guard James Harden puts up a shot during the first half of a 128-108 win over the Memphis Grizzlies at the Intuit Dome on Friday night. Harden finished with 30 points and nine assists. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

The high-level competition the Clippers faced this week allowed them to gauge themselves against some of the NBA’s best teams.

The Clippers have proven they can go toe-to-toe with elite teams and they’ve done so without coach Tyronn Lue, who has missed five of the last seven games because of back pain.

And the Clippers displayed their grit again Friday in a 128-108 blowout win over the Memphis Grizzlies at the Intuit Dome.

The seventh-seeded Clippers not only moved to 2½ games behind the fifth-place Grizzlies with their fifth consecutive win, but they also swept the season series 3-0. The Clippers (40-30) are just one game behind sixth-place Golden State.

Read more: Clippers continue playoff push against formidable opponents

James Harden led the Clippers with 30 points and nine assists. He was five for 10 from three-point range, giving him 202 on the season. He joined JJ Redick and Paul George as the only players in franchise history to make at least 200 threes in a season.

Kawhi Leonard had a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Ivica Zubac also had a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Norman Powell got back in the groove, scoring 14 points. Powell, who was one for two from three-point range, has made 448 three-pointers with the Clippers, pushing him past Lou Williams for seventh on the team’s all-time list.

With Lue at home, Clippers assistant coach Brian Shaw was at the helm. The Clippers are 5-1 under his guidance.

Before the game, Shaw was asked how being in charge of a team is different from being an assistant.

“A lot less sleep,” Shaw said, laughing.

Shaw said “making the final decision” is the biggest difference between the roles.

“I’m more aware of everything that’s happening,” he said. “As an assistant coach, we’re always giving ideas to Ty and obviously he has to make the final decision. So, the biggest is just being in that situation where now…

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Publish date : 2025-03-22 05:09:00

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