James Harden kept his reaction brief and focused after the Los Angeles Clippers continued their strong run with a 112-104 win over archrivals the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night.
The Clippers have been one of the NBA’s hottest teams over the past month, winning 14 of their last 17 games since Dec 20. Against the Lakers, they built a commanding lead of up to 26 points before holding off a late rally to secure the victory.
The resurgence has been driven by Kawhi Leonard’s return to elite form and Harden’s steady all-round contributions. Leonard came back from a three-game absence to score 24 points, while Harden delivered 18 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists.
Despite the recent surge, the Clippers still face an uphill task after a slow start to the season. For Harden, however, the priority remains simple.
“We did just enough. Whatever it takes to win, that’s the mindset for me,” Harden said in a post-game interview.
The Clippers’ sense of urgency has been evident in recent weeks. They have climbed to 10th place in the Western Conference standings after spending much of the early season near the bottom. With 38 games still to play, they remain well-positioned to push above .500 and challenge for a direct playoff spot.
