Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Clippers: James Harden Takes Subtle Shot at Dallas Mavericks’ Defense After Game 1 Win: ‘They tried Luka’

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Rex Villas | Last updated 4/22/24

James Harden has become some sort of a forgotten superstar in the NBA. But on Sunday, the Los Angeles Clippers shooting guard showed up to play against Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks, as he led his team to a 109-97 win at home.

Harden was a big thorn in the side of the Mavericks. Dallas already got a big plus in the game with Kawhi Leonard not in uniform because of a knee injury, but Harden, Paul George, and Ivica Zubac all made life hard for the Mavs’ defense.

James Harden Shows He’s Got Plenty Of Juice Left With Awesome Game 1 Performance for Los Angeles Clippers

Harden went down to work early in the Mavs game, as scattered 20 of his 28 points in the first half. Dallas threw different defenders at him, but Harden seemed to shrug them all.

Via Law Murray of The Athletic:

“It’s going to be different matchups,” Harden said after being guarded by Washington in the first half and Derrick Jones Jr. to start the second half. “They tried Luka. I mean for me, my mindset doesn’t change.”

The challenge now for Harden and the Clippers is sustaining the form they established in the series opener. The Mavericks are not going to simply lay down their weapons after just a loss, so Los Angeles is expecting Dallas to hit harder in Game 2, which is scheduled to be played on Tuesday.

This article first appeared on Hardwood Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: