NBA: James Harden’s triple-double leads Clippers past Raptors.

 

On Friday night, James Harden recorded his first triple-double of the season with 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 13 assists as the visiting Los Angeles Clippers upset the Toronto Raptors 127-107.

In the two games of the season series, the Clippers defeated his old team, and Kawhi Leonard added 16 points and seven rebounds.

Off the bench, Russell Westbrook scored 20 points to help the Clippers win four out of the last eight games. In addition to Mason Plumlee’s 12 points and 12 rebounds, Paul George scored 21 points, while Norman Powell, a former Raptors player, scored 17 points.

The Raptors, who have dropped eight out of nine games and four in a row, were led by Cotie Barnes, who scored 23 points.

In addition, RJ Barrett scored 22 points, Thaddeus Young scored 12 points, Dennis Schroder and Gary Trent Jr. each scored 13.

After leading by 21 points in the third quarter, the Clippers led by 14 points going into the fourth. With 9:01 left in the fourth quarter, Harden’s three-pointer extended the margin back to twenty points.

With 5:41 remaining, Barrett made a layup to trim the advantage to 13.

Even though they missed all six of their three-point attempts in the first quarter, the Clippers used an early 11-0 run to take a 29-20 lead at the half.

With 8:19 remaining in the second quarter after Westbrook’s layup, the margin had increased to 14 points. After Plumlee’s dunk with 2:48 remaining, the lead increased to 17.

Barrett’s layup to cap off the first-half scoring brought the Clippers’ lead down to 66-52 after it had reached 19.

In the first half, the Clippers shot 53.1 percent (26 of 49) from the field, led by 17 points and 8 assists from Harden.

In the first half, Toronto shot 42% (21 of 50) from the field. Schroder and Barrett each finished with 11 points.

With 10:56 remaining in the third quarter, Trent made a 3-pointer to trim the advantage to 11. With 7:18

remaining in the quarter, Harden’s jumper increased the lead to 16, and with 4:30 remaining, George’s two free throws brought it to 21.

With 1:49 remaining, Bruce Brown’s 3-pointer allowed Toronto to rally and cut the lead to 12. After three quarters, Los Angeles had a 95-81 lead.

Jontay Porter (eye) of Toronto exited the game during the first half and did not come back.

Immanuel Quickley (quadriceps) and Jakob Poeltl (ankle) were not with the Raptors.