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

Associated press

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — The points keep coming for James Harden, who on Thursday night became the 20th player in NBA history to score 26,000 points in his career in the Los Angeles Clippers’ 125-119 loss to the Phoenix Suns.

Harden was more concerned about the points the Clippers have given up after blowing double-digit leads in both back-to-back games. Los Angeles led by as many as 21 points on Thursday after missing a 10-point lead in a 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 from the twenties onwards. As if it’s there. We just have to find ways to not lose it and keep playing our brand of 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-most in NBA history, as Harden finished with 25 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists.

Harden also had six turnovers, including throwing the ball away awkwardly when the score was tied at 105 with 5:20 to go. Phoenix ultimately managed to convert that mistake into a three-pointer from Devin Booker and a lead that it would not relinquish.

“You’ve seen the usage rate I have, it’s going to happen,” Harden said. “The way turnover is going to happen. … But the ones that aren’t forced, I have to control them much better. But I don’t think it’s necessarily the turnovers that lost the game. That third quarter they just didn’t feel our presence defensively.”

The Clippers’ three losses this season have come by a combined 10 points. Harden sees these close losses as something they could benefit from down the road, especially given Kawhi Leonard’s continued absence due to a knee injury.

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

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