James Harden had the ball, the clock was ticking, and the Clippers were down by three. It was crunch time at the shiny new Intuit Dome, but Grayson Allen had other plans. With a sneaky steal, he sealed Phoenixโs 116-113 victory over the Clippers. Ouch.
Harden’s Heartache
Man, you could see the frustration on Harden’s face after the game. “Iโm so disappointed that we didnโt get the win,” he said, clearly bummed about not clinching their first game in the new arena. He dropped 29 points, grabbed 12 boards, and dished out eight assists, but it just wasn’t enough to topple the Suns’ star-studded lineup. “History in Inglewood, in Intuit Dome… we got the short end of the stick,” he lamented. And honestly, I think heโs right. The fans were hyped, but the Clippers just couldnโt deliver.
Ty Lue said James Harden will need to “be special” until Kawhi Leonard returns.
Harden had a near triple-double in a narrow overtime defeat to the Phoenix Suns
The Beard’s Burden
With Paul George now in Philly and Westbrook off to Denver, plus Kawhi still on the mend, it’s all eyes on Harden. Coach Ty Lue knows it too: “We need him to be special until Kawhi gets back.” No pressure, right? Harden’s been here before, carrying teams on his back like he did in Houston. But let’s be real, his shooting was a bit offโonly 35.7% from the field and a rough 2-of-9 from downtown. Still, Lue has faith: “Thatโs a shot you saw him shoot at shootaround 40 times… Just didnโt make the shot.”
Home Court Dreams
The Intuit Dome is more than just a fancy new arena for Harden; it’s personal. “It means everything, man,” he said, reflecting on his LA roots. Growing up with the Staples Center and the Forum, this new spot in Inglewood holds a special place in his heart. And speaking of trades, did you catch that wild Curry rumor? Anyway, Harden sees the Dome as a fortress where the Clippers can prove their doubters wrong. “We want to show out and bring some energy into this building and win a lot of games,” he declared.
So, what do you think? Can Harden lead the Clippers to glory while Kawhi’s out, or are they in for a bumpy ride?
