Desperate to get on an extended run of success, the Los Angeles Clippers will try to build on what James Harden started when they face the New York Knicks on Friday at Inglewood, Calif.
The Knicks likely will be without leading scorer Jalen Brunson, who totaled 39 points and 10 assists on Thursday against the Los Angeles Lakers but left the game late in overtime with a right ankle injury.
The Clippers had lost six of their previous seven games when Harden poured in a season-high 50 points in a 123-115 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday. It was the eighth game of at least 50 points in franchise history, with five players accomplishing the feat. Bob McAdoo did it four times.
“I can do it, it’s not my first time,” said Harden, who has 24 games in his career of at least 50 points. “For someone who’s done it probably their first time, (it) takes a lot of energy, but for me it’s just understanding the game, seeing the game within the game.”
Trade-deadline acquisition Bogdan Bogdanovic added 23 points and Ivica Zubac had 22 points and 11 rebounds for Los Angeles, which was playing with Kawhi Leonard (rest), leading scorer Norman Powell (hamstring) and Derrick Jones Jr. (groin).
Complicating matters for the Clippers of late was a run of eight consecutive road games. Before looking right at home against the Pistons, they had not played in their own building since Feb. 12.
Harden was 14 of 24 from the floor and 6 of 13 from 3-point range while paying 38 minutes for the second consecutive night. Bogdanovic logged his highest-scoring game in his 10 for the Clippers on 8-of-16 shooting and 3-of-6 success from deep.
“Just coming in here and seeing (Harden) ready, he gives the motivation for (the) rest of the locker room and especially younger guys,” Bogdanovic said. “Everybody contributed, but it starts with him.”
The Knicks failed to protect a 10-point fourth-quarter lead and lost to the Lakers 113-109 in overtime on Thursday. Brunson did all he could, even making two free throws after hurting his ankle before limping off to the locker room.
New York’s OG Anunoby scored 20 points and Josh Hart had 18 against his former team. The Knicks scored just 15 points in the fourth quarter, then watched the Lakers score 14 in the five-minute extra period.
New York has lost consecutive games for the second time in the past seven contests after not losing multiple games in a row since a three-game skid Jan. 3-6.
Karl-Anthony Towns scored 12 points and pulled down 14 rebounds on Thursday after missing a loss Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors for personal reasons. Somebody will have to step in and fill the void for Brunson, who is averaging 26.1 points and 7.4 assists per game.
“It was a hard-fought game, and it came down to the stretch with a lot of tough plays,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “We couldn’t get to a loose ball, things like that. A lot of times that’s the difference. But overall, I thought the first 3 1/2 quarters were very, very good. Obviously we have to close out better.”
