James Harden becomes the 20th player with 26,000 career points

On By Littum

Associated Press

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) – The points keep coming for James Harden, who became the 20th player in NBA history to reach 26,000 career points with the Los Angeles Clippers 125-119 loss to the Phoenix Suns Thursday evening.

Harden was more concerned about the points the Clippers have given up after blowing double-digit leads in both games of a back-to-back. Los Angeles led by as many as 21 Thursday after squandering a 10-point lead in one 106-105 loss to Portland the night before.

“It’s definitely frustrating just because we were up by double digits in both games,” Harden said. “Last night we didn’t play well and we still had a double digit lead. Tonight we played well, especially in the first half and up 20-something. Just as it is there. We just have to find ways to not lose it and continue to play our basketball.”

Harden joined the elusive group when he made his second free throw with 1:25 left in the fourth quarter. It came in his first triple double of the season and 78th of his career, tying Wilt Chamberlain for seventh in NBA history as Harden finished with 25 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists.

Harden also had six turnovers, including fumbling the ball away when the score was tied at 105 with 5:20 left. Phoenix ended up turning that miss into a Devin Booker 3-pointer and a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.

“You’ve seen the usage rate that I have, it’s going to happen,” Harden said. “Like, turnovers are going to happen. … But the ones that aren’t forced, I’ve got to control them a lot better. But I don’t think it’s necessarily the turnovers that lost the game. The third quarter, defensively, they just weren’t feeling us, defensively , our presence.”

The Clippers’ three losses this season have been by a combined 10 points. Harden sees those narrow losses as something that could end up benefiting them later, especially when you consider Kawhi Leonard’s continued absence due to a knee injury.

“We just have to find ways to execute and win them,” he said. “The last two were tough, but we’ll get there sooner rather than later.”

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