The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Charlotte Hornets thanks to an outstanding performance by James Harden, ending their losing streak for the time being. The 55 points are a new franchise record for the Clippers.
On an emotional evening for Chris Paul, it was his former Rockets teammate Harden who set the course for an away win early on. After falling behind in the opening minutes, the Clippers, and Harden in particular, went on a 22-4 run that quickly gave them a double-digit lead.
Harden scored 27 points in the first quarter, hitting six three-pointers, and could have even increased his tally to 29, but missed two free throws in the final seconds. The trend continued in the second quarter, with The Beard already on 35 points at the break.
However, rookie Kon Knueppel also had a good day for the Hornets (26 points), keeping Charlotte within striking distance. It was only with another run at the end of the third quarter that the Clippers were able to pull away decisively, and Harden was able to shine once again. He finished the game with a season-high 55 points (17/26 FG, 10/16 three-pointers) and seven assists.
He was supported by Ivica Zubac (18, 9 rebounds), while CP3 scored only three points in his last NBA return to his home state, but played eight assists. For the Hornets, Brandon Miller scored 21 points and LaMelo Ball contributed a quiet 18 points.