There was a lot to celebrate in the LA Clippers' win against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday.
Paul George put the team on his back and scored a season-high 38 points, 18 of which came in the fourth quarter. The Clippers shot 46.5% from long range, knocking down a season-high 20 three-pointers.
But as impressive as those single-game feats may be, two Clippers starters found themselves with two distinct honors that took them their whole careers to achieve. James Harden was the first of the tandem to climb up an all-time ladder for the sole possession of 22nd place on the NBA’s all-time points list. It was his 25,280th point that put him ahead of Reggie Miller.
James Harden and Paul George continue making NBA history
The former MVP crossed the 25,000-point threshold only a month ago against the Golden State Warriors. In his first season with the Clippers, he is averaging 16.9 points. Although this is a decline from the offensive production he has become famous for, he has found other ways to contribute as the team's primary facilitator. He is averaging 8.4 assists per game.
Not many moments later in the game, George sunk his 2,144th career three-pointer, surpassing Paul Pierce for the sole possession of 12th place on the NBA’s all-time three-point field goal list.
George would go on to make five more three-pointers on the night. The All-Star forward is converting on a career-high 42.1% of his looks from behind the arc, and he is averaging 3.7 three-point makes per game.
From the look of it, both Harden and George have a long way to go in their careers. And one can only hope their first championship awaits them in the near future.