James Harden Frustrated as Luka Doncic Joins Clippers Huddle
Portland, Oregon, USA – LA Clippers guard James Harden (1) gestures to a teammate on an inbounds play during the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda.
James Harden and Luka Doncic had a brief exchange after the Lakers star unexpectedly joined the Clippers huddle.
Luka Doncic enjoyed himself during the Los Angeles Lakers’ 108-102 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday. He engaged in trash talk throughout the game and even stepped into the Clippers’ huddle during the first quarter, which visibly irritated Harden.
Despite exchanging words, Harden and Doncic eventually laughed it off. It was all in good spirits.
However, the Clippers weren’t having much fun trying to contain Doncic in the first quarter. The 26-year-old put up 12 points in the period, effortlessly scoring against the Clippers’ defense. He drained three three-pointers and even had some playful advice for the Clippers coaches after making the last one.
To counter Doncic, defenders must step up, or else the five-time All-Star will punish them, as he did. After the game, Lakers head coach JJ Redick emphasized that playing drop coverage against Doncic is a mistake, something the Clippers should be well aware of given their history with him.
Doncic finished with 29 points (9-17 FG), six rebounds, nine assists, and two steals. A good portion of those points came against Harden, with Doncic mockingly telling him he couldn’t guard him after scoring an and-1.
To be fair to Harden, few players in the NBA can stop Doncic when he gets into rhythm. Even elite defenders struggle against him, so Harden can’t be blamed too much for being outmatched.
However, Harden’s struggles on offense were more concerning. The 35-year-old managed just 13 points (4-14 FG), two rebounds, eight assists, and two steals. The Clippers won’t be successful in many games where he plays this inefficiently.
This marked Harden’s second consecutive poor performance against the Lakers. In Friday’s 106-102 loss, he recorded 18 points (5-22 FG), seven rebounds, nine assists, and three steals.
These back-to-back losses dropped the Clippers to 32-28. They have now lost five of six games since the All-Star break, putting them in danger of sliding further in the standings.
Meanwhile, the Lakers are on fire. They extended their winning streak to six games and have won 16 of their last 19. With this win, they improved to 38-21 and moved into second place in the Western Conference standings.
Many doubted the Lakers’ championship chances this season, especially after trading Anthony Davis and lacking a quality starting big man. But despite that, they are thriving.
They may not be the title favorites, but they are primed for a deep playoff run. With superstars Doncic and LeBron James leading the way and a strong supporting cast, they are a formidable contender. Additionally, head coach Redick has silenced his critics with his impressive leadership.
The Lakers’ next game is against the New Orleans Pelicans at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday at 10:30 PM ET. Given their current form, they are well-positioned to secure another win.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) maneuvers against LA Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) and guard James Harden (1) in the second quarter at Crypto.com Arena.