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NBA: Harden sets Clippers record with 55 points in win over Hornets

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Clock Icon6 hoursBasketball

James Harden scored a franchise-record 55 points with 10 3-pointers, and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Charlotte Hornets 131-116 on Saturday hours after 12-time All-Star point guard Chris Paul released a video on social media hinting at retirement after the season ends.

Harden's 55-point outing was the 11th-highest scoring game of his career. His career high is 61 points, done both times with Houston in 2019. The Clippers' previous single-game scoring record was 52 points, achieved by Charles Smith (1990) and Bob McAdoo (1974, 1976).

Paul, who grew up in Winston-Salem and played at Wake Forest, finished what is expected to be his final game in his home state with eight assists. The 40-year-old showed his mastery of finding the open man in the second half by finding LA teammate Brook Lopez for three open 3s.

Ivica Zubac added 18 points, nine rebounds and six assists for the Clippers, who snapped a three-game losing streak.

Rookie Kon Knueppel had 26 points to lead the Hornets, who have lost five straight. Brandon Miller returned from a 13-game absence because of a shoulder injury and finished with 21 points.

Harden erupted for 27 points in the opening quarter on five 3s, helping the Clippers build a 14-point first-half lead and erase a fast start by the Hornets, who made seven of their first eight shots.

Pistons defeat Bucks for 12th straight win

Cade Cunningham had 29 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds as the Detroit Pistons capitalised on sizzling shooting to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 129-116 for their 12th straight victory.

Detroit's Jaden Ivey played 15 minutes and scored 10 points in his first game since breaking his left fibula on January 1. Tobias Harris scored 18 points while playing for the first time since November 1 after dealing with a sprained right ankle.

Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo missed a second straight game due to an adductor strain. The Bucks have dropped four straight to fall below .500 for the first time this season.

The Pistons are one victory away from matching the longest winning streak in franchise history. Detroit won 13 straight games in 1989-90 and 2003-04, and went on to win the NBA title both seasons.

Detroit also ended a 13-game skid in this series by beating the Bucks for the first time since a 115-106 triumph at Milwaukee on January 3, 2022. That had been tied for the second-longest active win streak by any one team against another.

Bulls send Wizards to 14th straight loss

Nikola Vucevic had 28 points and 12 rebounds, and the Chicago Bulls handed Washington their 14th consecutive loss with a 121-120 victory over the Wizards.

Josh Giddey had 18 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists for Chicago, which won for the third time in four games. Coby White scored 20 points, and Matas Buzelis finished with 13.

Washington inbounded the ball with 5.5 seconds left, but Kyshawn George rolled an errant pass out of bounds. Chicago then ran out the clock.

Cam Whitmore and Corey Kispert each scored 20 points for the NBA-worst Wizards, who remained winless against Eastern Conference opponents. CJ McCollum had 18 points, and George added 17.

The Bulls trailed for most of the night, but they put together a 10-0 run midway through the final period. The teams traded the lead three times in the final two minutes before Tre Jones put the Bulls ahead for good with a pair of free throws with 34.2 seconds left.