(Video) James Harden makes kids’ day after OT brilliance in Clippers win over Warriors

James Harden scored 12 of the Clippers' 13 points in OT and made some fans' day after the game outside Chase Center.

(Video) James Harden makes kids’ day after OT brilliance in Clippers win over Warriors

James Harden

The Clippers took on the Warriors in one of the most consequential Game 82s in recent memory. The winner of the contest would be rewarded with a playoff spot, while the loser would have to feature in the play-in tournament. James Harden, Jimmy Butler, Kawhi Leonard and Steph Curry all shone bright, but it was The Beard who would end up deciding the course of the game with 12 of the Clippers’ 13 points in overtime.

Harden finished the night with 39 points and 10 assists. Though he had six turnovers by the middle of the third quarter, he cleaned his act up after that. The All-NBA selection candidate also had stout support from Ivica Zubac, who put up a monstrous 22-point, 17-rebound performance. Zubac himself shot 11-of-16 from the field and won his positional battle with Draymond Green.

YouTube video

Following the game, as Harden made his way out of Chase Center, he was met by a few young kids. The kids were in awe of the 2017-18 NBA MVP, congratulating him for a productive night in a win. Always a fan favorite, Harden stopped to have a short conversation with those kids, who all sported some form of Warriors gear. He also had some sage advice for the impressionable young ones.

Make sure y’all grades are good. Listen to y’all parents. And you’ll be in the @NBA one day!

James Harden told the young basketball fans

Harden’s demeanor and message touched the hearts of many basketball fans on social media. Many fans responded with appreciation for him being a class act and a role model for kids.

James Harden will need to be at his best for the Clippers to win a playoff round

Before the season started, the Clippers were adjudged as a surefire lottery or play-in team. However, they have managed to surpass preseason expectations by a long shot – oddsmakers tallied the team’s probable over/under for wins at 35.5 this year. The only team to beat the projections by more games was the Detroit Pistons led by Cade Cunningham.

With Kawhi Leonard getting back close to his best offensive form, this is a team that can beat any other team. The Klaw is a surefire bet to be a top-two player in any series, irrespective of opponents. However, the Clippers will need their whole roster to be firing against the Denver Nuggets. After all, facing the best player in the world at the peak of his powers while surrounded with shooters and cutters is no mean feat.

Harden by himself will need to continue his All-NBA caliber performances into the postseason. The Clippers will also need the likes of Zubac and Norman Powell to be up for the challenge of being viable third options. Beating the Nuggets’ explosive offense will require a fair amount of scoring from the Clippers’ role players.

Harden will necessarily need to up his scoring levels as the team’s rotations shorten. The Beard will need to start averaging at least 25 points per game if the Clippers are to stand a chance in this series. Many NBA experts believe that this 4th seed vs 5th seed matchup could go the distance and last seven games.