James Harden’s Clippers debut ends in DEFEAT as the Knicks run out 111-97 winners in New York… as LA’s newly acquired guard scores 17 points at Madison Square Garden

James Harden got off to a losing start in his long-awaited debut for the LA Clippers on Monday night.

Despite scoring a respectable 17 points in his first appearance for the Clippers, Harden was unable to inspire his new team to victory as the New York Knicks instead ran out 117–97 winners at Madison Square Garden.

The All-Star guard, who finally landed his desired trade to LA from Philadelphia late last month, failed to record a single point in the opening quarter of Monday’s game.

At times, like when he ran up the floor and found a cutting Kawhi Leonard for a layup, it was easy to see why the Clippers’ new four-star system could be so powerful.

Other times, like when Russell Westbrook threw away a pass trying to get the ball to Harden to spark a fast break as the Knicks took control, it looked like it could take a while for that to happen.

Despite putting up a respectable 17 points in his first appearance for the Clippers, Harden was unable to inspire his new team to victory as the New York Knicks instead ran out 117–97 winners.

The Clippers fell too far behind after a rough start to the fourth quarter, meaning they were unable to claw their way back as the Knicks held on for the win.

Harden joined the Clippers last week after finally getting the trade he wanted from the 76ers and immediately jumped into the starting lineup in his debut, taking the floor with Leonard, Westbrook and Paul George.

But the front four went to the bench for good after Harden’s bad pass led to a Knicks fast-break layup, making the score 104-88 with 4:25 to play.

The Clippers were already aware that adding Harden might not yield immediate results. Players who have been All-Stars and even MVPs in the NBA will have to change the way they have always played.

“So just because you get a guy like James Harden doesn’t mean you’re automatically going to win,” coach Tyronn Lue said before the game. ‘You have to work hard for it and be willing to make sacrifices.’

Harden was the last of the Clippers announced and was loudly booed by the crowd at Madison Square Garden. He played just over half of the first quarter and then came out, with Lue saying before the game that his new guard would play shorter stints than normal in his first NBA action of his 15th season.

Some of Harden’s best work came while playing without the other starters. The three-time NBA scoring champion didn’t even have a chance in the first quarter and then went 4 for 5 for nine points in the second quarter, starting the period with reserves P.J. Tucker, Norman Powell, Bones Hyland and Mason Plumlee.

Some of Harden’s best work came while playing without the other starters for the Clippers

Harden played 31 minutes and led the Clippers with six assists. He had a good third quarter, setting up Leonard’s fast-break layup midway through the period and hitting a long 3-pointer just before the end, and it was tied at 76 heading into the fourth.

But the Knicks broke it open with Leonard, George and Westbrook rested early in the fourth, then pulled away for good later in the period with all in the game.

The Clippers should be a title contender if these four players stay healthy, although Harden has previously been on teams whose hopes were destroyed by untimely injuries. So they know all they can do is use the season to make sure they’re as ready as possible.

“It’s not going to happen overnight, so the guys have to sacrifice minutes, shots and touches,” Lue said. “If they do that, we can be a really good team and tonight will be the start of that.”