HOUSTON (AP) 鈥� Los Angeles Clippers star James Harden moved into a tie with Ray Allen for second place on the NBA鈥檚 career made 3-pointers list in a loss to the Houston Rockets on Friday night.
He now has 2,973, well behind Golden State's Stephen Curry, who entered Friday night with 3,779.
Harden entered the game three behind Allen, a Hall of Famer, who played 18 seasons.
Asked what it meant to tie Allen, Harden was succinct.
鈥淚t's cool,鈥� he said.
He made 3 of 6 attempts in the first quarter to tie Allen but missed three more attempts the rest of the way.
鈥淭hey were trying to not let me shoot 3s,鈥� he said.
He didn鈥檛 play in the fourth with Houston up by 19 entering the quarter.
Harden tied Allen in the city where he became a star during his nine years with the Rockets. The 35-year-old was named MVP in the 2017-18 season and made the All-Star game eight times in Houston before being traded to Brooklyn in 2021.
Most of his 3-pointers came with the Rockets, where he piled up 2,029.
鈥淛ames has always been a dynamic scorer,鈥� Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. 鈥淥nce he got (to Houston) and had his own team and figured out the style he wanted to play with (former Rockets coach Mike) D鈥橝ntoni he just took off. And 3-point shooting is a big weapon of his.鈥�
Harden was a bit disappointed that he didn't eclipse Allen in Houston. But he was more concerned about the team, which has lost three straight after winning the previous four.
鈥淭he entire wave of step-backs (started) here in Houston so it would have been cool, with my mom (here), I鈥檝e got a whole bunch of family here,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut it just didn鈥檛 work out that way, which is fine. For me it鈥檚 just about getting back on track in the win column. So that鈥檚 more important than anything.鈥�
He made 320 3-pointers in his first three NBA seasons while with the Thunder. He added 207 in two seasons in Philadelphia and 198 in parts of two seasons in Brooklyn.
Harden has made 219 3-pointers for the Clippers, where he is beginning his second season.
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AP NBA:
Kristie Rieken, The Associated Press