James Harden posted 24 points, eight rebounds and a game-high 11 assists while leading the visiting Los Angeles Clippers past the struggling Miami Heat, 119-104, yesterday (Philippine time).
Bogdan Bogdanovic added 30 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers, who have won four of their past five games overall. Los Angeles had dropped four straight road games, however.
Ivica Zubac posted 26 points and a game-high 14 rebounds for the Clippers, while Amir Coffey scored 13 points.
Miami took its season-worst fifth straight despite getting a game-high 31 points plus seven assists and six rebounds from Tyler Herro. It was his 14th game this season with at least 30 points.
Andrew Wiggins added 22 points, but Bam Adebayo was held to six points — 12 below his average. Adebayo, however, had seven rebounds, seven assists and a game-high five steals.
Heat reserve Duncan Robinson scored 15 points, his ninth straight game in double figures.
Kawhi Leonard was held out as the Clippers played on consecutive nights. Leonard has played just 23 games this season mostly due to a knee injury.
Los Angeles’ Norman Powell (hamstring) also missed the game.
Former Heat wing Derrick Jones, Jr. scored eight points — including two dunks — off the Clippers’ bench.
Los Angeles won the first quarter, 30-20. Harden scored 11 points as the Clippers shot 57.9 percent from the floor. The Heat shot just 38.9 percent, and it was Miami’s lowest-scoring first period since Jan. 19.
Terry Rozier hit a three-pointer, cutting Miami’s deficit to 42-38. Pelle Larsson got the assist from his back after diving head-first for a loose ball — an impressive show of hustle.
By halftime, Miami closed the gap to 57-52. The Heat improved to 54.5 percent shooting in the second quarter, when they produced a 12-2 edge on fastbreak points.
However, the Clippers extended their advantage to 92-84 after three as Zubac had 11 points and Bogdanovic added 10 in the quarter.
Miami never seriously threatened in the fourth.
Overall, the Clippers shot 59.2 percent from the floor, including 13-of-27 on three-point attempts (48.1 percent). They also had a 56-46 edge in paint points. The Heat wound up making 47.6 percent of their field-goal attempts and going 14-of-37 (37.8 percent) from long range. (Field Level Media / Reuters)