James Harden made a dynamic impact for the Los Angeles Clippers in their near-upset of the Denver Nuggets in Game 1. As the series continues Monday night in Denver, Harden remains a key figure for bettors targeting player props in what should be another high-leverage playoff battle.
Harden delivered 32 points and 11 assists in Saturday’s 112-110 overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets, keeping the Clippers competitive despite 20 team turnovers and a few late-game execution issues. His scoring efficiency and ability to set up teammates kept L.A.’s offense afloat against one of the league’s most disciplined defenses.
Here is the featured James Harden prop bet on DraftKings Sportsbook for Monday’s Game 2:
Best James Harden Prop Bet on DraftKings Sportsbook
Over 30.5 Points + Assists (-120)
Harden’s 43 combined points and assists in Game 1 blew past this line, and with Los Angeles leaning heavily on him as the primary initiator, there’s every reason to expect a similar workload in Game 2. He played 42 minutes in the opener, logged double-digit assists, and efficiently created looks off the dribble while keeping the Nuggets defense off balance.
While guiding the offense, Harden maintained control and repeatedly exposed Denver’s help rotations, especially when matched up against weaker defenders in space. With Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue confirming no significant changes to the rotation, expect the offense to again flow through Harden on nearly every possession.
“It’s confidence, confidence is always going to be there,” Harden said. “It’s a little frustrating just because it is self-inflicted, and it is something that we have been really good at these last few weeks. It’s even-keel, we will come back in Game 2 and be even better.”
The Clippers made 12 three-pointers in Game 1, with Harden accounting for a third of them directly, but he generated plenty of open looks. If his supporting cast continues to knock down shots and he remains aggressive hunting mismatches, the assist upside alone keeps this line well within reach.
