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.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Play By Play

Recent plays and game events

TIME	PLAY
12:00	Ivica Zubac vs. Ryan Kalkbrenner (Kobe Sanders gains possession)	0	0
11:42	James Harden bad pass (Brandon Miller steals)	0	0
11:37	Brandon Miller makes 1-foot dunk (LaMelo Ball assists)	2	0
11:17	Ivica Zubac makes 5-foot two point shot (James Harden assists)	2	2
11:09	Brandon Miller makes 14-foot pullup jump shot	4	2
10:50	James Harden makes 25-foot three pointer	4	5
10:50	Brandon Miller shooting foul	4	5
10:50	James Harden makes free throw 1 of 1	4	6
10:23	Brandon Miller makes 17-foot pullup jump shot	6	6
10:11	Ryan Kalkbrenner shooting foul	6	6
10:11	Kobe Sanders makes free throw 1 of 2	6	7
10:11	Kobe Sanders makes free throw 2 of 2	6	8
9:54	Kon Knueppel makes 8-foot two point shot	8	8
9:38	Kris Dunn misses 12-foot pullup jump shot	8	8
9:34	Ryan Kalkbrenner defensive rebound	8	8
9:27	Kon Knueppel makes 25-foot three point jumper (Miles Bridges assists)	11	8
9:12	John Collins misses 10-foot two point shot	11	8
9:10	LaMelo Ball defensive rebound	11	8
9:02	LaMelo Ball makes 12-foot driving floating jump shot	13	8
8:42	Miles Bridges blocks John Collins 's 3-foot driving layup	13	8
8:41	Miles Bridges defensive rebound	13	8
8:41	John Collins transition take foul	13	8
8:41	Miles Bridges makes free throw 1 of 1	14	8
8:34	James Harden personal foul	14	8
8:24	Brandon Miller misses 24-foot three point pullup jump shot	14	8
8:21	Ivica Zubac defensive rebound	14	8
8:15	James Harden makes 18-foot pullup jump shot	14	10
7:59	Brandon Miller makes 1-foot driving floating jump shot	16	10
7:50	James Harden misses 27-foot three point pullup jump shot	16	10
7:47	Miles Bridges defensive rebound	16	10
7:38	Ryan Kalkbrenner makes 1-foot dunk (Miles Bridges assists)	18	10
7:37	Clippers Full timeout	18	10
7:16	Kris Dunn vs. LaMelo Ball	18	10
7:13	James Harden misses 25-foot three point jumper	18	10
7:10	Clippers offensive team rebound	18	10
7:10	shot clock turnover	18	10
6:53	Brandon Miller misses 16-foot pullup jump shot	18	10
6:48	Ryan Kalkbrenner offensive rebound	18	10
6:48	Ryan Kalkbrenner misses tip shot	18	10
6:47	Ivica Zubac defensive rebound	18	10
6:43	LaMelo Ball shooting foul	18	10
6:43	James Harden makes free throw 1 of 2	18	11
6:43	Sion James enters the game for LaMelo Ball	18	11
6:43	Collin Sexton enters the game for Brandon Miller	18	11
6:43	James Harden makes free throw 2 of 2	18	12
6:30	Kon Knueppel makes driving layup (Ryan Kalkbrenner assists)	20	12
6:17	Ivica Zubac makes 8-foot two point shot (Kris Dunn assists)	20	14
6:00	Miles Bridges misses driving floating jump shot	20	14
5:58	John Collins defensive rebound	20	14
5:45	James Harden misses 5-foot step back jumpshot	20	14
5:42	Ivica Zubac offensive rebound	20	14
5:39	Ivica Zubac makes 1-foot dunk (Kris Dunn assists)	20	16
5:24	Collin Sexton double dribble turnover	20	16
5:12	James Harden makes 8-foot driving floating jump shot (Ivica Zubac assists)	20	18
5:12	Hornets Full timeout	20	18
4:56	Miles Bridges misses 25-foot three point pullup jump shot	20	18
4:53	John Collins defensive rebound	20	18
4:45	James Harden makes 26-foot three pointer	20	21
4:39	John Collins personal foul	20	21
4:39	Moussa Diabate enters the game for Ryan Kalkbrenner	20	21
4:39	Brook Lopez enters the game for Ivica Zubac	20	21
4:30	John Collins shooting foul	20	21
4:30	Miles Bridges makes free throw 1 of 2	21	21
4:30	Liam McNeeley enters the game for Kon Knueppel	21	21
4:30	Nicolas Batum enters the game for John Collins	21	21
4:30	Miles Bridges makes free throw 2 of 2	22	21
4:15	James Harden makes 11-foot step back jumpshot	22	23
4:02	Collin Sexton misses driving floating jump shot	22	23
4:00	Nicolas Batum defensive rebound	22	23
3:53	Kris Dunn misses driving floating jump shot	22	23
3:52	Moussa Diabate defensive rebound	22	23
3:46	Collin Sexton makes driving layup	24	23
3:18	Brook Lopez misses 16-foot two point shot	24	23
3:17	Clippers offensive team rebound	24	23
3:17	Cam Christie enters the game for Kobe Sanders	24	23
3:17	Chris Paul enters the game for Kris Dunn	24	23
3:04	Chris Paul makes 26-foot three point jumper (Brook Lopez assists)	24	26
2:50	Brook Lopez blocks Liam McNeeley 's 1-foot driving layup	24	26
2:48	Chris Paul defensive rebound	24	26
2:44	James Harden makes 26-foot three point shot (Chris Paul assists)	24	29
2:23	Collin Sexton misses driving floating jump shot	24	29
2:22	Brook Lopez defensive rebound	24	29
2:03	James Harden makes 26-foot three point step back jumpshot	24	32
1:51	Miles Bridges misses 9-foot pullup jump shot	24	32
1:44	Collin Sexton offensive rebound	24	32
1:40	LaMelo Ball enters the game for Miles Bridges	24	32
1:40	Pat Connaughton enters the game for Sion James	24	32
1:40	Brandon Miller enters the game for Collin Sexton	24	32
1:32	shot clock turnover	24	32
1:11	James Harden makes 7-foot driving floating jump shot	24	34
58.1	LaMelo Ball makes 27-foot three point jumper (Brandon Miller assists)	27	34
37.2	James Harden makes 26-foot three pointer	27	37
30.8	LaMelo Ball makes driving layup	29	37
30.8	Brook Lopez shooting foul	29	37
30.8	Miles Bridges enters the game for Liam McNeeley	29	37
30.8	Sion James enters the game for Pat Connaughton	29	37
30.8	LaMelo Ball makes free throw 1 of 1	30	37
16.6	LaMelo Ball personal foul	30	37
16.6	Kon Knueppel enters the game for LaMelo Ball	30	37
4.9	Kon Knueppel shooting foul	30	37
4.9	James Harden misses free throw 1 of 3	30	37
4.9	Clippers offensive team rebound	30	37
4.9	James Harden misses free throw 2 of 3	30	37
4.9	Clippers offensive team rebound	30	37
4.9	LaMelo Ball enters the game for Sion James	30	37
4.9	Kobe Sanders enters the game for Chris Paul	30	37
4.9	James Harden makes free throw 3 of 3	30	38
0.6	Brandon Miller misses 26-foot three point pullup jump shot	30	38
0.1	Hornets offensive team rebound	30	38
0.0	End of the 1st Quarter	30	38

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Game Information

Time, Location & Referees

Venue

Spectrum Center

Charlotte, NC

Date & Time

6:00 PM, November 22, 2025

Coverage

FanDuel SN SE, FanDuel SN SoCal, NBA League Pass

Attendance

18,721

Referees

James Capers, Justin Van Duyne, Pat O'Connell

2025-26 Pacific Standings

TEAM	W	L	PCT	STRK
LA Lakers	32	19	.627	W3
Phoenix	31	22	.585	L2
Golden State	28	25	.528	L1
LA Clippers	25	27	.481	W2
Sacramento	12	42	.222	L12

2025-26 Southeast Standings

TEAM	W	L	PCT	STRK
Orlando	27	24	.529	W2
Miami	28	26	.519	W1
Atlanta	26	28	.481	L1
Charlotte	25	28	.472	W9
Washington	14	38	.269	L2

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Harden erupts for 55, Clippers rout Hornets 131-116 in Paul's likely last game in North Carolina

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