Going Long: Harden joins Curry as the only NBA players to reach 3,000 three-pointers

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — James Harden He joined Golden State’s Stephen Curry as the only NBA player to make 3,000 profession three-pointers.

Harden reached the milestone in the first half of the Los Angeles Clippers’ 126-122 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday night. He hit three three-pointers in the first half and three more in the second half to lead the Clippers with 39 points.

“Another one of those accomplishments you never take for granted,” Harden said. “The amount of work I put in – the countless days and nights that I put in the work – a lot of people don’t see it, but the results are coming, so I’m just grateful.”

Harden just missed a triple-double, to which he added nine rebounds and 11 assists.

This achievement capped off a special week for the 35-year-old defender. Harden scored 43 points — his most as a Clipper — in Wednesday’s road win over the Washington Wizards, which was his one hundredth profession game with a minimum of 40 appearances. He joined Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan as the only players to achieve this.

“In the first quarter against Washington, he reminded people, ‘Hey, I can still come out here and put 40 points on you real quick,'” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said.

The Clippers are 13-9 without superstar Kawhi Leonard, who has yet to play this season but is coping with ongoing inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee.

Harden was tasked with carrying more of the offensive load in Leonard’s absence, and Paul George left as a free agent in the offseason. He responded, and at times, like against the Wizards, his efforts reminded him of his high-scoring years with the Houston Rockets.

Malone noted that Harden has matured and responded to what has been asked of him as some extent guard.

“He makes almost every key decision for their offense,” the coach said. “He can also beat you with his play, and that shows talent, which shows the quality of his game, where he is not just a scorer.”

Harden also mentors the team’s younger players, a job he describes as “very, very comfortable” for him.

“It’s easy for me because I’ve been in this situation for most of my NBA career. I just help the guys as much as I can, where it makes the game a lot easier for them,” he said. “It’s really great fun.”

Norman Powell said he and other Clippers love fidgeting with Harden because they know he shall be the one to get them the ball.

“It’s hard to see it from a distance,” Powell said, “but on the court we all know when to attack, when to shoot, when to give guys a gap, what pass he makes. He knows how to open up the guys and get the most out of the team.