One thing surprising occurred within the Clippers’ elimination recreation on Thursday night time.
James Harden really confirmed up.
Within the Clippers’ 111-105 victory over the Denver Nuggets at Intuit Dome, Harden seemed nothing just like the participant with a fame for stinking up arenas at this stage of the season.
He was purposeful, he was sharp, and he scored 28 factors in Recreation 6 to increase his workforce’s first-round playoff sequence to seven video games.
“I know what needs to be done,” mentioned Harden, who received his first elimination recreation since he performed for the Houston Rockets within the NBA bubble in 2020.
Recreation 7 will probably be performed on Saturday at Ball Enviornment in Denver.
The efficiency by Harden was a stark-contrast from his vanishing acts within the Clippers’ losses in Video games 4 and 5.
He scored 15 factors in Recreation 4 and simply 11 in Recreation 5.
The Nuggets had the Joker. The Clippers had the Choker.
This seemed like extra of the identical from Harden, who scored a mixed 23 factors and shot simply 25% final 12 months in Video games 5 and 6 defeats by the Dallas Mavericks that resulted within the Clippers’ first-round exit.
Nonetheless, coach Tyronn Lue mentioned he was responsible for Harden’s lack of manufacturing, saying he was answerable for creating extra space for Harden.
“I need to get you more involved,” Harden recalled being advised by Lue on the workforce’s flight residence after a Recreation 5 loss in Denver.
Lue’s resolution: To designate extra minutes to a smaller lineup that included Nicolas Batum. The Clippers began the second quarter with Harden, Batum, Kawhi Leonard, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Derrick Jones Jr.
“I wanted to get to the small lineup against their second unit,” Lue mentioned. “I thought we were able to push the pace, get open shots, get to the paint, kind of spread ‘em out a little bit so they couldn’t just load up and try to take away driving lanes.
“Going to that and seeing how good it was just to kind of space the floor was really huge for us.”
Harden thrived in that second quarter, scoring 17 factors.
“I thought he did a good job attacking one-on-one,” Lue mentioned. “Our spacing was really good tonight. He was able to get to the paint, get to the basket.”
With the Nuggets aware of Harden, openings had been created for others. Norman Powell scored 11 factors within the third quarter, throughout which they had been forward by as many as 15 factors. Leonard scored 9 of his 27 factors in the identical interval.
Harden completed with a team-high eight assists.
“He’s been here before,” Leonard mentioned of Harden. “Guys have games where they don’t play well during the season. It’s just another game, so I knew he was gonna be able to come back, or he was going to be aggressive and try to get to his spots.”
The Clippers now have an opportunity.
They’ve an opportunity to take down the Nuggets and advance. They’ve an opportunity to advance additional than any workforce in franchise historical past.
That probability, nonetheless, is contingent on Harden persevering with to play like this and never reverting to his customary postseason kind.
Can his physique maintain up?
Harden performed 47 minutes in Recreation 6, marking the third time on this sequence he performed greater than 40 minutes.
He’s 35 years previous.
“Tired,” Harden mentioned. “Tired, a little bit.”
Does Harden have one other 47 or 48 minutes in Denver?
“Have to, have to,” Harden mentioned. “Whatever the team needs, 47, 48, overtime, whatever, I’ll be willing to do it.”
Lue didn’t suppose fatigue could be an issue for Harden.
“He wants to play every night,” Lue mentioned. “He’s in great shape, trains for these moments. He wants to play.”
Harden averaged greater than 35 minutes over 79 regular-season video games, and he thinks the workload will put together him for a Recreation 7 that will probably be performed 5,280 ft above sea stage.
“Prepares your body physically to be able to withstand and just being able to play both ends of the ball,” Harden mentioned. “Your legs are tired, so you’ve been there before. For me, it’s just finding my spots.”
The easy goal might produce monumental modifications in fame — not just for Harden personally however for the Clippers as properly.
