Harden drops 50 in front of President Obama

James Harden put up his first 50-point night with the Los Angeles Clippers on recently and moved closer to Kobe Bryant in the NBA record books. During the Clippers’ 123-115 win over the Detroit Pistons at Inuit Dome, Harden recorded his 24th career 50-point game, putting him within one of Bryant for third-most in NBA history. 

By Earl Heath | Contributing Sports Writer

James Harden put up his first 50-point night with the Los Angeles Clippers on recently and moved closer to Kobe Bryant in the NBA record books. During the Clippers’ 123-115 win over the Detroit Pistons at Inuit Dome, Harden recorded his 24th career 50-point game, putting him within one of Bryant for third-most in NBA history. 

The former Artisa High standout is averaging 22.1 points per game this season and has recorded four 40-point games this season. But scoring 50 is a mark that has eluded him since he did so 12 times during the calendar year of 2019, which included reaching 60 points three times. 

At 35-year-old he is also the second-oldest NBA player ever to score 50 points on zero days’ rest after putting up 21 points against the Phoenix Suns 24 hours earlier. 

“To see him come out and score 50 on a back-to-back, at the age of 35, just says a lot about him,” said Clippers coach Tyronn Lue. “And competing every night and playing 38 minutes again on the back-to-back. But we needed every bit of it.” 

The 15-year veteran posted 50 for the first time since December 2019. Former President Barack Obama was in attendance with Clippers owner Steve Ballmer 

“Probably the reason why I played so well,” Harden said afterward. 

The 50-point game was the eighth in the Clippers’ franchise history and first since January 2018 when Lou Williams did so against the Golden State Warriors. Harden is also part of a group of Clippers players that includes Williams, Bob McAdoo (3 times), and World B. Free to those who have posted at least four 40-point games in a season. 

The Clippers are 35-30 –eighth in the western Conference- Host Charlotte Sunday 4:00 at the Intuit Dome 

Even though it was a historic night for Harden, he couldn’t get a photo with Obama after the game. “He left,” Harden said. “I guess he wanted to beat the traffic.” 

“Probably the reason why I played so well,” Harden said afterward.