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Since being traded by the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Houston Rockets in the 2012-13 season, James Harden has been on a scoring tear, the likes of which the NBA has rarely seen before. In three years with OKC, the Beard had a pedestrian average of 12.96 points. Since moving out of the shadows of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, he has scored an average of 29.3 points, punctuated by three scoring titles.
James Harden is not just a one-trick pony, though. He has amassed a total of 58 triple-doubles, which is just one shy of Larry Bird’s 59 to tie the latter for seventh spot on the all-time career triple-doubles list. Among active players, only Russell Westbrook, the career leader with a mind-boggling 184, and LeBron James have more triple-doubles than Harden.
Of all the players on the career triple-double list, James Harden is arguably the most prolific scorer ever. He is a scoring machine who can effortlessly fill up the scoresheet in a variety of ways. His step-back jumper, which is practically unguardable, has been imitated by many in the NBA. No one, though, is anywhere close to the efficiency and volume of his trademark shot.
With Kyrie Irving potentially out for the rest of the season, the NBA could yet see another brilliant triple-double run by James Harden that is accentuated by his impressive scoring prowess.
Here’s a look at the five highest-scoring triple-doubles in James Harden’s career in the NBA:
#5 Sacramento Kings vs Houston Rockets (March 30, 2019)
The hard-charging, fast and young Sacramento Kings headed to the Target Center to face James Harden and the Houston Rockets. Unknowingly at that time, they would be part of Harden's history as the All-Star guard tallied 50 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists to lead Houston to a win.
The 50-point triple-double explosion was the fifth of his career and the most by any player in the NBA. Harden is joined by Russell Westbrook, Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain as the only players with more than one 50-point triple-doubles.
The game was a seesaw battle before Harden made 10 crucial points in the fourth quarter to win it for the Rockets. The Beard’s 50-point eruption was on alert midway through the first half as he dropped 31 of his 50 points in that period to guide Mike D’Antoni’s team early on.
#4 Los Angeles Lakers vs Houston Rockets (December 13, 2018)
James Harden’s stat line in the game was an exhilarating 50 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists performance. The game against the Los Angeles Lakers was memorable because it was against LeBron James and Harden completed his triple-double in only 35 minutes of basketball masterclass.
In 35 minutes of action, James Harden hit 14-26 of his field-goal attempts and an insane 18-19 trips to the free-throw line. 31 of the 50 points were scattered in the second half of that game. 17 of the 31 were dropped in the fourth quarter to show Harden’s clutch plays.
#3 Houston Rockets vs Philadelphia 76ers (January 27, 2017)
James Harden and the Houston Rockets traveled to the City of Brotherly Love to face Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers. Coming into this game, the Rockets were in a two-game losing streak, so they were looking for a win to halt the skid.
Philly’s strategy became evident early on. They were willing to let James Harden score as long as he didn’t involve Houston’s shooters. Philadelphia would live to regret that strategy. In only 39 minutes of game time, James Harden scored 51 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and dished out 13 assists. He was 16-28 from the field and sunk 13 of his 14 freebies.
The phenomenal display towed the Houston Rockets to a 123-118 win and cut their losing streak to only two games.
#2 New York Knicks vs Houston Rockets (December 31, 2016)
On that fateful day in December, the New York Knicks became witnesses to perhaps James Harden’s most complete and spectacular display of basketball wizardry. James Harden ended the game with a jaw-dropping stat line of 53 points, 16 rebounds and 17 assists. Harden’s scoring genius was underlined by canning 14 of his 26 field-goal attempts, including an outstanding 9 of 16 from deep.
The Houston Rockets beat the New York Knicks at the Toyota Center to a final score of 129-122. Harden’s monster performance gave him the distinction of becoming the first player to get at least 50, 15, and 15. The 53 point performance is tied with the legendary Wilt Chamberlain for the most points involving a triple-double.
Just two nights before that game against the Knicks, James Harden also lit up the Los Angeles Clippers with another triple-double. Harden was not only a basketball genius but also had the stamina and will to consistently produce such incredible performances.
#1 Orlando Magic vs Houston Rockets (January 30, 2018)
When the Orlando Magic visited the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas for a game against the Rockets, Mike D’Antoni was missing two key players in Chris Paul and Eric Gordon. For that reason, it was expected that James Harden would have to be even more of a scorer for the Rockets to win the ball game.
That night, James Harden made the record book for another scintillating display of incomprehensible firepower and basketball supremacy. He torched the Orlando Magic for 60 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists. His 60 points in a triple-double game broke the 53-point triple-double game he shared with Wilt Chamberlain.
James Harden’s 60 points were historic in a few ways. It was the first 60 point triple-double and he nudged past the Houston Rockets’ scoring record of 57 points scored by Calvin Murphy. It was a forty-year-plus record before Harden’s scoring abilities broke it.
In order to get to 60 points, James Harden made an incredible 19 of 30 field-goal attempts, including going 5 of 14 from beyond the arc. He capped off his performance by sinking 17 of his 18 free throws.
The Houston Rockets would get another win, but it was Harden’s performance that shook the rafters of Toyota Center.
Guess the Lakers players!
