James Harden sets Clippers record with 55 points in win over Hornets, while Kawhi Leonard nears return

James Harden sinking a four-point play in the opening minutes Saturday in Charlotte was a sign of things to come for the 11-time All-Star in the Los Angeles Clippers’ 131-116 win over the Hornets.

During the first frame, Harden scored 27 points, tied for the most a Clippers player has ever scored in a single quarter, while knocking down five 3-pointers. At halftime, the former league MVP had 35 points, the most any player has recorded in a single half this season.

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Harden finished with a season-high 55 points, setting a new Clippers single-game scoring record. The 36-year-old shot at all three levels, however, his perimeter shooting ability stood out. He went 10 of 16 from beyond the arc in the home state of Clippers guard Chris Paul, who will reportedly retire at the end of the season, his 21st in the NBA.

Hours before the game, 40-year-old Paul made a post on social media.

“What a journey…Still so much to go…THANKFUL for this last one!!” the 12-time All-Star wrote on Instagram beneath a video filled with highlights and set to a remix of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way.”

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Harden’s explosion gave the Clippers their second win since Nov. 3, when Kawhi Leonard suffered a sprained right ankle and foot that has kept him out the past 10 games.

But the Clippers are planning for Leonard’s return Sunday against the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

That said, according to Charania, before Leonard gets the green light, he will have to successfully complete his pre-game routine on Sunday in Cleveland.

Injuries marred Leonard’s time with the Clippers. Since joining the team in 2019, the two-time NBA Finals MVP and six-time All-Star forward has notably dealt with right knee issues. He missed the entire 2021-22 season and the first 34 games of last season.

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This time, a sprained ankle and foot cut short the first half of his season. In his absence, the Clippers were 1-9, until Saturday, when Harden exited and L.A. ended its three-game skid.

Harden was the only Clippers player to score more than 18 points against the Hornets. It more than tripled the total and accounted for more than half of Los Angeles’ 3-pointers.

Paul tied a season high with eight assists. He hit a 3 in the first quarter but finished with just those three points while shooting 1-of-5 in 23 minutes off the bench.

While Paul’s score was nothing to marvel at, it helped Harden, his former Houston Rockets teammate, put on his final show, with this one ending a losing streak ahead of Leonard’s expected return.