Game ID: 22500268
LA Clippers @ Charlotte Hornets
Saturday, November 22, 2025 at 1:00 PM ET
Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
CHA 30 27 25 34 116LAC 38 24 34 35 131
CHA vs LAC ScoutingCHA vs LAC Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
CHA availability going into 11/14 · 1 day's restOUT Miller missed 9 since 10/26, out tonight
OUT Ball missed 5 since 11/02, returns tonight: 27 min (98% of 28)
OUT Williams missed 4 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Green missed 3 since 11/07, out tonight
OUT Salaün missed 4 since 11/04, out tonight
NEW Bridges 31 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW James 22 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Sexton 22 to 29 min over the last 4
NEW Mann 13 to 25 min over the last 5
CHA availability going into 11/15 · back-to-backOUT Miller missed 10 since 10/26, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 5 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Green missed 4 since 11/07, out tonight
OUT Salaün missed 5 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Ball back 11/14 after 5, 27 min since (98% of 28)
NEW Knueppel 32 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW Bridges 31 to 39 min over the last 5
NEW James 22 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Mann 13 to 26 min over the last 5
CHA availability going into 11/17 · 1 day's restOUT Miller missed 11 since 10/26, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 6 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Green missed 5 since 11/07, out tonight
OUT Salaün missed 6 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT McNeeley missed 2 since 11/14, out tonight
BACK Ball back 11/14 after 5, 27 min since (98% of 28)
NEW Bridges 31 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW James 22 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Mann 13 to 26 min over the last 5
CHA availability going into 11/19 · 1 day's restOUT Miller missed 12 since 10/26, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 7 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Green missed 6 since 11/07, out tonight
OUT Salaün missed 7 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT McNeeley missed 3 since 11/14, out tonight
BACK Ball back 11/14 after 5, 27 min since (98% of 28)
NEW Bridges 31 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW James 22 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Mann 13 to 21 min over the last 5
CHA availability going into 11/22 · 2 days' restOUT Miller missed 13 since 10/26, returns tonight: 26 min (84% of 30)
OUT Williams missed 8 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Green missed 7 since 11/07, out tonight
OUT Salaün missed 8 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT McNeeley missed 4 since 11/14, returns tonight: 18 min (150% of 12)
BACK Ball back 11/14 after 5, 27 min since (98% of 28)
NEW James 22 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Mann 13 to 22 min over the last 4
CHA availability going into 11/23 · back-to-backOUT Williams missed 9 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Green missed 8 since 11/07, out tonight
OUT Salaün missed 9 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Mann missed 2 since 11/19, returns tonight: 17 min (133% of 13)
BACK Miller back 11/22 after 13, 26 min since (84% of 30)
BACK Ball back 11/14 after 5, 27 min since (96% of 28)
BACK McNeeley back 11/22 after 4, 18 min since (150% of 12)
NEW James 22 to 28 min over the last 5
CHA availability going into 11/26 · 2 days' restOUT Williams missed 10 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Green missed 9 since 11/07, out tonight
OUT Salaün missed 10 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Miller back 11/22 after 13, 26 min since (84% of 30)
BACK Mann back 11/23 after 2, 17 min since (133% of 13)
BACK McNeeley back 11/22 after 4, 17 min since (139% of 12)
NEW Sexton 22 to 28 min over the last 5
CHA availability going into 11/28 · 1 day's restOUT Williams missed 11 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Green missed 10 since 11/07, out tonight
OUT Salaün missed 11 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Miller back 11/22 after 13, 27 min since (88% of 30)
BACK Mann back 11/23 after 2, 19 min since (149% of 13)
BACK McNeeley back 11/22 after 4, 16 min since (135% of 12)
CHA availability going into 11/29 · back-to-backOUT Williams missed 12 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Simpson missed 2 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Green missed 11 since 11/07, out tonight
OUT Salaün missed 12 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Peterson missed 2 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Miller back 11/22 after 13, 28 min since (93% of 30)
BACK Mann back 11/23 after 2, 17 min since (138% of 13)
BACK McNeeley back 11/22 after 4, 13 min since (110% of 12)
LAC availability going into 11/14 · 1 day's restOUT Leonard missed 5 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Paul missed 3 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Niederhäuser missed 3 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK Sanders back 11/12 after 8, 25 min since (124% of 20)
BACK Bogdanović back 11/04 after 2, 26 min since (132% of 20)
LAC availability going into 11/16 · 1 day's restOUT Leonard missed 6 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Paul missed 4 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Niederhäuser missed 4 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK Sanders back 11/12 after 8, 19 min since (96% of 20)
BACK Bogdanović back 11/12 after 2, 29 min since (145% of 20)
LAC availability going into 11/17 · back-to-backOUT Leonard missed 7 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Paul missed 5 since 11/08, returns tonight: 11 min (79% of 14)
OUT Niederhäuser missed 5 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK Sanders back 11/12 after 8, 20 min since (102% of 20)
BACK Bogdanović back 11/12 after 2, 31 min since (156% of 20)
LAC availability going into 11/20 · 2 days' restOUT Leonard missed 8 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Niederhäuser missed 6 since 11/08, returns tonight: 11 min (103% of 10)
BACK Sanders back 11/12 after 8, 23 min since (115% of 20)
BACK Bogdanović back 11/12 after 2, 30 min since (151% of 20)
BACK Paul back 11/17 after 5, 11 min since (79% of 14)
LAC availability going into 11/22 · 1 day's restOUT Leonard missed 9 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Jones Jr. missed 2 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Miller missed 2 since 11/17, out tonight
BACK Sanders back 11/12 after 8, 24 min since (118% of 20)
BACK Bogdanović back 11/12 after 2, 28 min since (142% of 20)
BACK Paul back 11/17 after 5, 17 min since (121% of 14)
BACK Niederhäuser back 11/20 after 6, 11 min since (103% of 10)
LAC availability going into 11/23 · back-to-backOUT Leonard missed 10 since 11/04, returns tonight: 26 min (82% of 32)
OUT Jones Jr. missed 3 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Miller missed 3 since 11/17, out tonight
BACK Paul back 11/17 after 5, 19 min since (135% of 14)
BACK Niederhäuser back 11/20 after 6, 7 min since (67% of 10)
NEW Bogdanović 20 to 30 min over the last 4
LAC availability going into 11/25 · 1 day's restOUT Jones Jr. missed 4 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Miller missed 4 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Bogdanović missed 2 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK Leonard back 11/23 after 10, 26 min since (82% of 32)
BACK Paul back 11/17 after 5, 19 min since (131% of 14)
BACK Niederhäuser back 11/20 after 6, 6 min since (56% of 10)
NEW Sanders 20 to 27 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 11/28 · 2 days' restOUT Jones Jr. missed 5 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Miller missed 5 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Bogdanović missed 3 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK Leonard back 11/23 after 10, 27 min since (84% of 32)
BACK Paul back 11/17 after 5, 17 min since (118% of 14)
BACK Niederhäuser back 11/20 after 6, 5 min since (47% of 10)
NEW Sanders 20 to 26 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 11/29 · back-to-backOUT Jones Jr. missed 6 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Miller missed 6 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Lopez missed 2 since 11/25, out tonight
OUT Bogdanović missed 4 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK Leonard back 11/23 after 10, 28 min since (86% of 32)
BACK Niederhäuser back 11/20 after 6, 5 min since (47% of 10)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 119, shooting 43 percent and 32 from three, 23 free throws a game; Bridges at 23 and Knueppel at 22 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Miller (13 straight), Williams (8 straight), Green (7 straight). 2 days' rest. The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 123, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 26 free throws a game; Harden at 32 and Zubac at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. They have lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Leonard (9 straight), Jones Jr. (2 straight), Miller (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Charlotte wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Charlotte has been plus-4 a night and the Clippers minus-5 and the arc, the Clippers at 37 percent from three to Charlotte's 32. Call it Charlotte 119, the Clippers 115, the Clippers keeping it close.
11/14 @ MIL 134-147 — CHA notes
CHA lost 134-147 in 1 overtime. CHA took 13 more shots (98 to 85), fed by 10 offensive rebounds, but shot 48% to MIL's 65%, 17 of 45 from three, and went to the line 29 times to MIL's 22 — 23 points from the stripe to their 17. CHA turned it over 13 times to MIL's 22. Bridges led with 32 (12 of 24, 6 of 15 from three); Knueppel added 32, Ball 16. Q2 was theirs, 36-27, turning a 1-point deficit into a 8-point lead, but the other 4 periods went 120-98 against them. They led by as many as 10. Mann's -23 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/15 vs OKC 96-109 — CHA notes
CHA lost 96-109. CHA shot 39% (37 of 96) to OKC's 51%, 16 of 42 from three. Bridges led with 15 (6 of 16, 3 of 9 from three); Sexton added 13, Kalkbrenner 13. Q4 was theirs, 26-22, the deficit cut from 17 to 13, but the other 3 periods went 87-70 against them. Bridges's -20 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/17 @ TOR 108-110 — CHA notes
CHA lost 108-110. CHA shot 43% (37 of 87) to TOR's 50%, 10 of 40 from three, and went to the line 30 times to TOR's 16 — 24 points from the stripe to their 12. Knueppel led with 24 (9 of 16, 4 of 10 from three); Bridges added 22, Ball 20. Q3 was theirs, 31-28, the deficit cut from 5 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 82-77 against them. Kalkbrenner's -14 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/19 @ IND 118-127 — CHA notes
CHA lost 118-127. CHA took 22 more shots (107 to 85), fed by 22 offensive rebounds, but shot 40% to IND's 54%, 13 of 45 from three. Knueppel led with 28 (11 of 20, 5 of 12 from three); Bridges added 25, Ball 18. Q4 was theirs, 34-23, the deficit cut from 20 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 104-84 against them. Kalkbrenner's -11 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/22 vs LAC 116-131 — CHA notes
CHA lost 116-131. CHA shot 48% (41 of 85) to LAC's 51%, 11 of 36 from three. Knueppel led with 26 (9 of 12, 6 of 9 from three); Miller added 21, Bridges 19. Q2 was theirs, 27-24, the deficit cut from 8 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 107-89 against them. Sexton's -18 in 23 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/23 @ ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 119, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 19 free throws a game; Johnson at 25 and Okongwu at 24 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Young (12 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Charlotte comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 125, shooting 43 percent and 32 from three, 23 free throws a game; Knueppel at 24 and Bridges at 23 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Williams (9 straight), Green (8 straight), Salaün (9 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the arc, Atlanta at 41 percent from three to Charlotte's 32 and the glass, where Charlotte has been minus-0 a night and Atlanta minus-7. Call it Atlanta 123, Charlotte 115.
11/26 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 118, shooting 43 percent and 31 from three, 21 free throws a game; Knueppel at 23 and Bridges at 20 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Williams (10 straight), Green (9 straight), Salaün (10 straight). 2 days' rest. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 118, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 26 free throws a game; Brunson at 29 and Towns at 28 a game. Without Anunoby (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where New York takes 26 free throws a game to Charlotte's 21. Call it New York 118, Charlotte 116, Charlotte keeping it close.
11/28 vs CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 122, shooting 43 percent and 29 from three, 24 free throws a game; Knueppel at 22 and Bridges at 21 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Williams (11 straight), Green (10 straight), Salaün (11 straight). One day's rest. Chicago comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 131, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; White at 23 and Dosunmu at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. Without Okoro (2 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Charlotte wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Charlotte has been plus-1 a night and Chicago minus-13 and the defense, Charlotte allowing 122 a night to Chicago's 131. Call it Charlotte 122, Chicago 121, Chicago keeping it close.
11/29 vs TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 123, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 23 free throws a game; Miller at 22 and Bridges at 21 a game. Without Williams (12 straight), Simpson (2 straight), Green (11 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Toronto comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 105, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 27 free throws a game; Ingram at 25 and Barrett at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Barrett (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Toronto wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Toronto allowing 105 a night to Charlotte's 123 and the arc, Toronto at 37 percent from three to Charlotte's 31. Call it Toronto 120, Charlotte 112.
11/14 @ DAL 133-127 — LAC notes
LAC won 133-127 in 2 overtimes. LAC shot 47% (45 of 95) to DAL's 44%, 13 of 42 from three. Harden led with 41 (13 of 25, 6 of 12 from three, 9 of 11 at the line); Zubac added 27, Bogdanović 21. The hinge was OT2, 10-4: from level to 6 ahead, and the lead reached 15. Zubac was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
11/16 @ BOS 118-121 — LAC notes
LAC lost 118-121. LAC shot 47% (38 of 81) to BOS's 45%, 14 of 35 from three, and went to the line 30 times to BOS's 17 — 28 points from the stripe to their 13. LAC turned it over 13 times to BOS's 6. Harden led with 37 (9 of 22, 5 of 11 from three, 14 of 15 at the line); Collins added 17, Zubac 16. Q3 was theirs, 36-27, the deficit cut from 14 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 94-82 against them.
11/17 @ PHI 108-110 — LAC notes
LAC lost 108-110. LAC shot 40% (35 of 87) to PHI's 46%, 12 of 39 from three. Harden led with 28 (7 of 25, 2 of 12 from three, 12 of 12 at the line); Sanders added 17, Zubac 14. Q1 was theirs, 33-25, but the other 3 periods went 85-75 against them. They led by as many as 13.
11/20 @ ORL 101-129 — LAC notes
LAC lost 101-129. LAC shot 40% (36 of 89) to ORL's 48%, 14 of 36 from three. LAC turned it over 21 times to ORL's 10, and ORL turned those into 12 steals. Harden led with 31 (8 of 16, 5 of 11 from three, 10 of 12 at the line); Zubac added 14. Q3 was theirs, 27-32, but the other 3 periods went 97-74 against them. Harden's -20 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/22 @ CHA 131-116 — LAC notes
LAC won 131-116. LAC shot 51% (46 of 90) to CHA's 48%, 19 of 43 from three. Harden led with 55 (17 of 26, 10 of 16 from three, 11 of 14 at the line); Zubac added 18, Sanders 11. The hinge was Q3, 34-25: a lead of 5 became 14, and the lead reached 24. Harden was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
11/23 @ CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 27 free throws a game; Mitchell at 30 and Mobley at 17 a game. Without Merrill (2 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 121, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 27 free throws a game; Harden at 38 and Zubac at 18 a game. Without Leonard (10 straight), Jones Jr. (3 straight), Miller (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the defense, Cleveland allowing 111 a night to the Clippers' 121 and the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-1 a night and the Clippers minus-3. Call it Cleveland 120, the Clippers 112.
11/25 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 110, shooting 49 percent and 32 from three, 31 free throws a game; Dončić at 31 and Reaves at 23 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Vanderbilt (2 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 119, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Harden at 34 and Zubac at 19 a game. Without Jones Jr. (4 straight), Miller (4 straight), Bogdanović (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the glass, where the Lakers have been plus-4 a night and the Clippers minus-2 and the defense, the Lakers allowing 110 a night to the Clippers' 119. Call it the Lakers 119, the Clippers 111.
11/28 vs MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 122, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Harden at 32 and Zubac at 18 a game. Without Jones Jr. (5 straight), Miller (5 straight), Bogdanović (3 straight). 2 days' rest. Memphis comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 18 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 20 and Aldama at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 12 a night. Without Morant (5 straight), Mashack (3 straight), Jackson (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Memphis wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Memphis has been plus-12 a night and the Clippers minus-3 and the defense, Memphis allowing 111 a night to the Clippers' 122. Call it Memphis 116, the Clippers 115, the Clippers keeping it close.
11/29 vs DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 122, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Harden at 31 and Leonard at 26 a game. That is 3 straight losses. They have lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Jones Jr. (6 straight), Miller (6 straight), Lopez (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 113, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Washington at 19 and Flagg at 16 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the defense, Dallas allowing 113 a night to the Clippers' 122. Call it the Clippers 115, Dallas 113, Dallas keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
LACBL B. Lopez
CC C. Christie
CP C. Paul
IZ I. Zubac
JC J. Collins
JH J. Harden
JT J. Telfort
KB K. Brown
KD K. Dunn
KS K. Sanders
NB N. Batum
YN Y. Niederhäuser
CHABM B. Miller
CS C. Sexton
DP D. Peterson
DI Diabate
KK K. Knueppel
LB L. Ball
LM L. McNeeley
MB M. Bridges
MD M. Diabaté
MP M. Plumlee
PC P. Connaughton
RK R. Kalkbrenner
SJ S. James
LAC/CHA the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Harden erupts for 55, Clippers rout Hornets 131-116 in Paul's likely last game in North Carolina
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- — James Harden made 10 3-pointers and scored a franchise-record 55 points, 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.
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.
Charlotte pulled within 74-72 in the third quarter, but the momentum changed when LaMelo Ball exited the game with his fourth foul.
With Hornets center Ryan Kalkbrenner leaving the game early with an ankle injury, the Clippers leaned on Zubac's size advantage over Moussa Diabate in the third quarter, resulting in back-to-back dunks. Then came Harden's signature moment, as he drilled his eighth 3 on a step-back jumper over two defenders, drawing a foul on Diabate for a 4-point play.
Harden's 55-point outing was the 11th-highest scoring game of his career. His career high is 61 points. The Clippers' previous single-game scoring record was 52 points, achieved by Charles Smith and Bob McAdoo.
Paul, who grew 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.
Hornets lose two more The Hornets, who have been besieged by early season injuries, lost two more players against the Clippers. Kalkbrenner (left ankle soreness) and veteran guard Pat Connaughton (right calf soreness) left the game in the first half and did not return.
Up next Both teams are on the road Sunday night, with the Clippers visiting Cleveland and the Hornets at Atlanta.