Los Angeles Clippers celebrity James Harden handed Moses Malone in scoring and moved as much as eleventh on the NBA all-time scoring record throughout Sunday night time’s 103-101 loss to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.
Malone, the three-time MVP who gained a championship with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1983, retired with 27,409 factors throughout his 21-year profession.
James Harden Wants 874 Factors To Move Carmelo Anthony
Harden, who’s now as much as 27,416 profession factors, sits simply 873 behind Carmelo Anthony (28,289) and the highest 10. The 11-time All-Star hit a floater off the glass within the third quarter to push him previous the Corridor of Fame large man. The 16-year veteran additionally wants 307 factors to cross Shaquille O’Neal (28,596) at No. 9.
In accordance with Basketball Reference, Harden has handed 9 gamers this season, climbing from twenty first on the NBA all-time scoring record to now simply exterior the highest 10. The 35-year-old is averaging 22.5 factors per recreation on 39.6% taking pictures from the sphere and 34.5% from 3-point vary.
For the reason that Clippers have 11 video games left of their common season, Harden ought to be capable of achieve some extra floor on Anthony and O’Neal and can seemingly push for 30,000 profession factors towards the tip of subsequent season or early in 2026-27.
In Los Angeles’ 123-115 win over the Detroit Pistons on March 5, he recorded a season-high 50 factors on 14-of-24 (58.3%) taking pictures from the ground, 6-of-13 (46.2%) from past the arc, and 16-of-20 (80%) on the foul line.
Harden has already scored over 1,500 factors this season in 68 video games. With the Houston Rockets in 2018-19, he amassed a career-high 2,818 factors in 78 video games.
Thunder Snapped The Clippers’ 5-Sport Win Streak
The Clippers noticed their five-game profitable streak come to an finish in opposition to the Thunder, they usually began the day in seventh place of the Western Convention standings, simply proportion factors forward of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“A loss is a loss,” head coach Tyronn Lue mentioned. “However I assumed our guys did job competing on the defensive finish. Offensively, I assumed we may have accomplished issues higher.”
Regardless of the loss at residence, Lue was inspired by his crew’s play, particularly the protection in opposition to main MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who completed with a game-high 26 factors.
Gilgeous-Alexander, who leads the league in scoring, shot a season-worst 24.1% (7-for-29) from the sphere as OKC gained its sixth straight. Nevertheless, the two-time All-NBA member did make all 11 of his free throws.
“Simply with the ability to come down the stretch in a one-point recreation, had a pair pictures however simply capitalize,” Lue mentioned. “After which simply defensively, I assumed we did some good issues. I assumed we made Shai play rather a lot below duress all night time, not let him play free and cozy.”
The Clippers (40-31) go to the New York Knicks on Wednesday.
