INGLEWOOD, California: James Harden now stands alone at No. 2 in 3-pointers.
The Los Angeles Clippers guard connected on the 2,974th 3-pointer of his career Sunday night and broke a tie with Basketball Hall of Famer Ray Allen for the No. 2 spot on the NBA’s list.
“It’s an unbelievable accomplishment and just a testament to the work that I’ve been putting in,” Harden said. “As I get older and chip away at an unbelievable career, you start to accomplish things like that and I don’t ever want to take it for granted.”
Harden’s history-making shot came from the right wing with 6:09 left in the first quarter in a 116-105 victory over the Utah Jazz. The only player ahead of Harden on the list is Golden State’s Stephen Curry at 3,782.
Curry and the Warriors are in Southern California to face the Clippers on Monday.
“I’m one of the most confident guys we have in this league, but no, I probably won’t catch Steph, and I don’t think anybody will, honestly,” Harden said.
Harden was 2 of 8 from 3-point range and finished with 20 points, 11 assists and six rebounds.
Allen needed 1,300 games to make his 2,973 3-pointers. Harden passed him in 1,086 games.
“Both of those guys,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said last week, “are extraordinary shooters.”
Harden is one of three players in NBA history to have 300 3-pointers in a season. He made 378 in 2018-19; the other players on that list are Curry (who has done it five times, including an NBA-record 402 in 2015-16) and Klay Thompson (who made 301 in 2022-23).
“To be a scorer at all three levels and to be second all-time in 3-pointers made is crazy,” Lue said after the game. “And a lot of tough 3s: off the dribble, step backs, pocket 3s, pulling up off the dribble on pick and rolls.
“Just to see what he has accomplished from a two-guard to the transition to point guard, his whole career has been great.”
Harden also is 15th on the NBA’s career list in points and 13th in assists. The only other player who ranks in the top 15 in scoring, assists and 3-pointers — appearing on all three lists — is LeBron James, the league’s career scoring leader who is fourth in assists and eighth in 3-pointers.
Allen passed Reggie Miller for No. 1 on the 3-pointers list during the 2010-11 season and held the record for more than a decade. Curry passed Allen during the 2021-22 season.

LONDON: Harry Kane’s 69th international goal sparked a second-half scoring spree that fired England back to the top tier of the UEFA Nations League on Sunday.

In temporary head coach Lee Carsley’s final game in charge, a 5-0 win against Ireland secured promotion and ensured England will be back among Europe’s leading nations in the next edition of the competition.

“I wanted the England team to be exciting to watch and attacking,” Carsley said. “I see them do it day in, day out on the training ground. And now we’ve seen it (on the field).”

England won their group on goal difference ahead of second-placed Greece, who beat Finland 2-0.

Kane’s 53rd-minute penalty at Wembley was a record-extending goal for his country after Liam Scales brought down Jude Bellingham in the box and was sent off for a second yellow card offense.

Within five minutes England were 3-0 up through Anthony Gordon in the 55th and Conor Gallagher in the 58th.

Substitute Jarrod Bowen made an immediate impact, scoring with his first touch in the 75th and Taylor Harwood-Bellis, making his debut, headed in another four minutes later.

“A really important win for us,” Kane said. “It was a tough first half, but we came out second half with a lot more energy and we finished it off.”

England, who are set to welcome new head coach Thomas Tuchel in January, needed to match Greece’s result to top Group B2.

Anastasios Bakasetas had put Greece ahead in the 52nd in Finland, with Kane’s England opener coming a minute later.

Christos Tzolis scored the second for Greece, which faces a playoff to try to win promotion.

After five wins from six games, Carsley will now return to his permanent role as head coach of England’s under 21s. Tuchel begins in January and will lead the campaign to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

He should have plenty of options when he selects his first squad after Carsley handed debuts to eight players during his short reign.

In his final game, Gordon, Gallagher, Bowen and Harwood-Bellis all scored their first senior goals for England.

“Lee has achieved the main objective from the six fixtures this autumn: securing promotion back to the top tier of the Nations League,” English Football Association CEO Mark Bullingham said. “The players have really enjoyed working with Lee and his team – they have made a real impact in their interim roles.”

Rabiot double

Adrien Rabiot scored two goals as France beat Italy 3-1 to win Group A2.

Both teams had already secured their places in the quarterfinals before the match in Milan, but France needed to win by at least two goals to take top spot.

“It’s been a while since we’ve played a match like that, fighting all together,” Rabiot told French television channel TF1. “The aggressiveness that we showed, our team spirit, that should all be highlighted. That is the real face of the France team.”

Rabiot headed the visitors in front just inside two minutes.

France shocked San Siro into silence in the 33rd when Lucas Digne curled in a magnificent free kick from 25 yards that went into the top left corner via the underside of the bar and Guglielmo Vicario. It went down as an own-goal from the Italy goalkeeper, who was a late replacement after Gianluigi Donnarumma fell ill with a stomach bug.

Italy pulled a goal back two minutes later when Andrea Cambiaso volleyed past Mike Maignan.

But Rabiot grabbed his second in the 65th with another header — the sixth goal in a row Italy has conceded from set plays.

While the match had started with the Italy fans booing the French anthem, it finished with France supporters proudly singing the same song in triumph.

It was the first time Italy had lost a home game by two or more goals since 1983, according to soccer statistician Opta.

Also in the group, No. 6-ranked Belgium fell to a surprise 1-0 loss against Israel, ranked 81st. Yarden Shua’s goal settled the game, which was held in Budapest, Hungary, in the 86th. Israel were relegated to League B despite the win.

Belgium must now face a playoff to try to avoid relegation.

Haaland hat trick

Erling Haaland leads the Nations League scoring charts after hitting a hat trick in Norway’s 5-0 win against Kazakhastan in Group B3.

The Manchester City striker took his total to seven goals and is two clear of Viktor Gyokeres, Cristiano Ronaldo and Benjamin Sesko, who are all tied on five.

Norway were promoted to the top tier, ahead of second-place Austria, who drew 1-1 with Slovenia.