Harden Scores 38 and 39 Against The LA Teams
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
By Derrel Jazz Johnson
The New York Knicks hosted the Trae Young-less Atlanta Hawks in a noon showdown to begin the NBA Christmas slate of five games and New York native Kemba Walker took advantage of Young’s absence and had a Christmas performance to remember, scoring 10 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing out 12 assists. Julius Randle led the team with 25 points and 12 rebounds, as the Knicks cruised to the holiday win 101-87. New York jumped on Atlanta early and often and led 19-3 in the opening minutes of the game and never trailed in the Christmas day contest at Madison Square Garden.
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
Meanwhile the Brooklyn Nets began a west coast trip later that night and beat the Los Angeles Lakers 122-115. Guard James Harden led the team with 38 points (2 rebounds short of a triple double) and Patty Mills chipped in 34. Harden hadn’t played in more than 2 weeks due to the league’s safety and health protocol. LeBron James led all players with 39 points his season high. Brooklyn followed that win by taking out the Los Angeles Clippers Monday night 124-108. Harden put in another offensive performance scoring 39 points. 4 other players scored in double figures with Nic Clayton and Mills chipping in 18 points each. Brooklyn host the Philadelphia 76ers Thursday night. The Knicks next 3 games are on the road as they faced Minnesota Tuesday night before going to Detroit and Oklahoma City to face the Thunder.
Sports Editor Andrew Rosario contributed to this article.
