Clippers James Harden showed up in Game 6. Can he | College News

Something sudden occurred in the Clippers’ elimination sport on Thursday evening.

James Harden really showed up.

In the Clippers’ 111-105 victory over the Denver Nuggets at Intuit Dome, Harden seemed nothing just like the participant with a status for stinking up arenas at this stage of the season.

He was purposeful, he was sharp, and he scored 28 factors in Game 6 to prolong his crew’s first-round playoff sequence to seven video games.

“I know what needs to be done,” stated Harden, who received his first elimination sport since he performed for the Houston Rockets in the NBA bubble in 2020.

Game 7 will likely be performed on Saturday at Ball Arena in Denver.

The efficiency by Harden was a stark distinction to his vanishing acts in the Clippers’ losses in Games 4 and 5.

He scored 15 factors in Game 4 and just 11 in Game 5.

The Nuggets had the Joker. The Clippers had the Choker.

This seemed like more of the identical from Harden, who scored a mixed 23 factors and shot just 25% final 12 months in Games 5 and 6 defeats by the Dallas Mavericks that resulted in the Clippers’ first-round exit.

However, coach Tyronn Lue stated he was to blame for Harden’s lack of manufacturing, saying he was accountable for creating more space for Harden.

“I need to get you more involved,” Harden recalled being advised by Lue on the crew’s flight home after a Game 5 loss in Denver.

Lue’s resolution: To designate more minutes to a smaller lineup that included Nicolas Batum. The Clippers began the second quarter with Harden, Batum, Kawhi Leonard, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Derrick Jones Jr.

“I wanted to get to the small lineup against their second unit,” Lue stated. “I thought we were able to push the pace, get open shots, get to the paint, kind of spread ’em out a little bit so they couldn’t just load up and try to take away driving lanes.

“Going to that and seeing how good it was just to kind of space the floor was really huge for us.”

Harden thrived in that second quarter, scoring 17 factors.

“I thought he did a good job attacking one-on-one,” Lue stated. “Our spacing was really good tonight. He was able to get to the paint, get to the basket.”

With the Nuggets mindful of Harden, openings had been created for others. Norman Powell scored 11 factors in the third quarter, during which they had been forward by as many as 15 factors. Leonard scored 9 of his 27 factors in the identical period.

Harden completed with a team-high eight assists.

“He’s been here before,” Leonard stated of Harden. “Guys have games where they don’t play well during the season. It’s just another game, so I knew he was gonna be able to come back, or he was going to be aggressive and try to get to his spots.”

The Clippers now have a likelihood.

They have a likelihood to take down the Nuggets and advance. They have a likelihood to advance additional than any crew in franchise historical past.

That likelihood, however, is contingent on Harden persevering with to play like this and not reverting to his customary postseason type.

Can his physique maintain up?

Harden performed 47 minutes in Game 6, marking the third time in this sequence he performed more than 40 minutes.

He is 35 years previous.

“Tired,” Harden stated. “Tired, a little bit.”

Does Harden have one other 47 or 48 minutes in Denver?

“Have to, have to,” Harden stated. “Whatever the team needs, 47, 48, overtime, whatever, I’ll be willing to do it.”

Lue didn’t suppose fatigue could be a downside for Harden.

“He wants to play every night,” Lue stated. “He’s in great shape, trains for these moments. He wants to play.”

Harden averaged more than 35 minutes over 79 regular-season video games, and he thinks the workload will put together him for a Game 7 that will likely be performed 5,280 toes above sea stage.

“Prepares your body physically to be able to withstand and just being able to play both ends of the ball,” Harden stated. “Your legs are tired, so you’ve been there before. For me, it’s just finding my spots.”

The easy goal might produce monumental adjustments in status — not only for Harden personally but for the Clippers as effectively.