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#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.
