TORONTO -- The "Cardiac Clips" are back.

The Los Angeles Clippers pulled off one of their most thrilling wins of the season on Friday night, rallying from a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Toronto Raptors 121-117 in overtime at Scotiabank Arena.

The victory extended the Clippers' winning streak to five games and improved their record to 18-23 on the season.

Harden Takes Over When It Matters Most

The Clippers were down 109-101 with just 3:35 left in regulation when James Harden decided to take over the game by himself, scoring eight straight points to force overtime and then adding four more free throws to open the extra period.

Harden finished the night with 31 points and 10 assists while playing 42 minutes, though he struggled from three-point range by going just 2-for-15.

His ability to get to the basket and the free-throw line proved crucial down the stretch, as the Clippers have now won 12 of their last 14 games after starting the year with a brutal 6-21 record.

VINTAGE JAMES HARDEN CLUTCH IN OT 🤯

Dropped 31 PTS/10 AST in the Clippers' 5th-straight win 🔥 pic.twitter.com/VxcgwdRkJP
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) January 17, 2026

The victory came without several key players for Los Angeles as Kawhi Leonard missed the game with a sprained right ankle and a knee contusion, marking his first absence since November 22.

John Collins was also out with a groin injury, and Bradley Beal remains sidelined for the season following hip surgery.

Bogdan Bogdanovic (hamstring) and Derrick Jones Jr. (knee) also remained out.

Young Players Step Up Big

With the Clippers shorthanded, their young reserves delivered impressive performances and made a significant impression on a front office that needs to make a decision on their contracts.

Jordan Miller led the way off the bench with 19 points and six assists, continuing his recent hot streak that has seen him become a key contributor during the team's turnaround.

Jordan Miller, last five games pic.twitter.com/UppTnus0kW
— Brett Usher (@UsherNBA) January 17, 2026

Miller has been turning heads with his confident shooting and solid defense, and his clutch three-pointer with 3:06 left in overtime gave the Clippers a five-point lead.

He needs to have a guaranteed contract on the Clippers roster. Plain and simple.

Cam Christie added 16 points while Kobe Sanders played a career-high 37 minutes and finished with 13 points.

Kobe Sanders hit a crucial free throw with seven seconds remaining to seal the final margin after the Raptors had cut it to a one-point game.

If Lawrence Frank is still reading at this point, Sanders deserves a standard contract as well.

Clippers young core vs Raptors

Jordan Miller
19 PTS / 6 AST / 4 STL / 72.7% FG

Cam Christie
16 PTS / 5 REB / 1 AST / 50% 3P

Kobe Sanders
13 PTS / 3 REB / 3 STL / 66.7% 3P

All of them were 2nd Round Picks https://t.co/feQX38wUpA pic.twitter.com/wIAT4QFbqI
— OBK (@FeelLikeOBK) January 17, 2026

Ivica Zubac returned from an ankle injury that kept him out of Wednesday's win over the Wizards and delivered a strong double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds.

His presence in the paint helped the Clippers battle back from a 14-point deficit they faced early in the game.

Clippers Defense Clamps Down Late

Toronto jumped out to a quick start by taking a 32-24 lead after the first quarter and held a 61-52 advantage at halftime.

The Raptors appeared to have the game in hand when they led by as many as 14 points in the fourth, but missed six straight shots down the stretch and watched as Harden erased the deficit.

The Clippers finished the game on a 20-8 run, leaning on the improved defensive identity that has fueled their recent surge.

"For a big, there's no better point guard to play with" - Zubac about Harden

"We're still growing, that's the beautiful thing about it" - Harden about Zubac

This>>>>> 🥹❤️ pic.twitter.com/hBpFCl35Ny
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) January 17, 2026

Scottie Barnes led the Raptors with 24 points while Brandon Ingram added 19 in the loss.

Toronto fell to 25-18 on the season and has now lost two of their last three games.

The Clippers head to Washington on Monday looking to extend their hot streak, while the Raptors begin a five-game Western road trip against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.

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