James Harden recorded his 82nd career triple-double and scored four of his 41 points in the second overtime as the visiting Los Angeles Clippers snapped a six-game losing streak with a 133-127 win over the Dallas Mavericks in NBA Cup play on Friday.
Harden had season highs in points (41) and rebounds (14) while dishing 11 assists in 51 minutes for the Clippers, who scored the final points of the game on Derrick Jones Jr.’s two foul shots with 2:20 remaining.
Los Angeles moved to 2-0 in NBA Cup West Group B play, while Dallas fell to 0-2.
Ivica Zubac had a season-high 27 points and 11 rebounds for the Clippers, who led by 12 early in the fourth quarter. Bogdan Bogdanovic scored a season-high 21 points, and Jones added 15.
D’Angelo Russell spearheaded the Mavericks’ rally in the final minutes of regulation. He scored eight straight Dallas points during a 17-6 run, including a layup with 52.4 seconds left that tied the game at 114-114 and sent the game to overtime.
A layup by Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg with 20 seconds left in the first overtime tied the game at 123-123, and the game headed to double overtime after Harden’s floater was blocked with a second left.
Harden recorded his eighth career triple-double as a member of the Clippers, which is the most in franchise history.
Naji Marshall and Russell scored 28 points apiece for Dallas, which lost its third straight game. Flagg had 16 points, Klay Thompson scored 13, and Daniel Gafford and Max Christie had 10 apiece.
Harden capped an 18-2 run with consecutive 3-pointers to give the Clippers a 52-42 lead with 3:45 left in the half.
Los Angeles held a 62-55 advantage at the half behind Harden, who led all scorers with 23 points, having hit four 3-pointers.
Dallas center Dereck Lively II returned after missing nine games with a sprained right knee and had four points and five rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench.
–Field Level Media
