James Harden sets Clippers record with 55 points in win over Hornets; Kawhi Leonard reportedly nears return

James Harden cashing in on a signature four-point play in the opening minutes Saturday in Charlotte was a sign of things to come for the 11-time All-Star in the Los Angeles Clippers’ 131-116 win over the Hornets.

During the first frame, Harden poured in 27 points, tied for the most any Clippers player has ever scored in a single quarter, while knocking down five 3-pointers. By intermission, the one-time league MVP had 35 points, the most a player has recorded in a single half this season.

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Harden finished with a season-high 55 points, setting a new single-game Clippers scoring record. The 36-year-old made shots at all three levels, but his perimeter marksmanship stood out. He went 10 of 16 from beyond the arc in the home state of fellow Clippers guard Chris Paul, who reportedly will be retiring at the end of the season, his 21st in the NBA.

Hours before the game, the 40-year-old Paul posted on social media.

“What a ride…Still so much left…GRATEFUL for this last one!!” the 12-time All-Star wrote on Instagram below a video filled with highlights and set to a remix of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way.”

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Harden’s outburst delivered the Clippers just their second win since Nov. 3, when Kawhi Leonard suffered a sprained right ankle and foot that’s kept him out the past 10 games.

But the Clippers are planning for Leonard to return Sunday against the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

That said, before Leonard officially gets the green light, he’ll have to successfully go through his pregame routine Sunday in Cleveland.

Injuries have marred Leonard’s time with the Clippers. Since joining the team in 2019, the two-time NBA Finals MVP and six-time All-Star forward has most notably dealt with right knee issues. He missed the entire 2021-22 season and the first 34 games of last season.

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This time around, a sprained ankle and foot have interrupted the first half of his season. In his absence, the Clippers were 1-9 — that was, until Saturday when Harden went off, and L.A. ended its three-game skid.

Harden was the only Clippers player to score more than 18 points against the Hornets. He more than tripled that total and accounted for more than half of L.A.’s 3-pointers.

Paul tied a season high with eight assists. He splashed a 3 in the first quarter but finished with only those three points on 1-of-5 shooting in 23 minutes off the bench.

While Paul’s scoring figure was nothing to marvel at, he helped Harden, his former Houston Rockets teammate, put on his latest spectacle, with this one stopping a losing streak ahead of Leonard’s expected return.

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