Houston Rockets: Top 3 individual performances from the 2018-19 NBA season

After finishing at the top of the Western Conference Standings last year, the Houston Rockets finished fourth (53-29) this season. They eventually lost to the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Semifinals in six games.

The franchise's face, James Harden, broke several records over the course of the season which include his 32 straight games with 30 or more points. Though the season ended in a way James Harden and the Houston Rockets would not have wanted, the shooting guard's offensive dominance throughout the season is something the fans would definitely cherish for years to come.

In this article, we take a look at the top three individual performances for the Houston Rockets this year.

#3 James Harden vs Memphis Grizzlies - 57 points

James Harden tallied 57 points but the Grizzlies took the win in overtime

Stat line: 57 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks on 46.1 % shooting

James Harden is known for his ability to put the ball in the hoop effortlessly and is arguably one of the most dominant offensive players the game has ever seen. When the Houston Rockets hosted the Memphis Grizzlies at the Toyota Center in January, he scored 57 points and led the Rockets to victory.

In March, the Rockets and the Grizzlies squared off once again, this time at the FedEx Forum. Harden exploded and tallied 57 points once again, but the Grizzlies took the win in overtime.

In the fourth quarter, he led a 17-2 Rockets comeback, scoring 15 points during that stretch. With 4 seconds remaining in the regulation period, he knocked down both his free-throws to send the game to overtime.

It was The Harden Show in the overtime as 'The Beard' scored all 10 points for the Rockets and kept them alive in the game. The Rockets eventually lost the game by just one point and suffered a tough loss. Harden stuffed the stat sheet with his stellar performance on both ends of the floor, finishing with 57 points on 18-for-39 shooting.

Final Score: Houston Rockets 125 -126 Memphis Grizzlies

#2 James Harden vs New York Knicks - 61 points

Stat line: 61 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals on 44.7 % shooting

James Harden dropped a career-high 61 points against the New York Knicks, at the world famous Madison Square Garden, in January to help the Rockets edge past the Knicks 114-110. This was his fifth 50-point game of the season and it was his all-around performance that got the win.

Harden started the game hot and had 19 points in the first quarter but the Knicks took a 3-point lead at the end of the quarter. In the second quarter, the Rockets were more aggressive on the defensive end and trimmed the Knicks' lead from 13 points to just 5 points.

With 3.8 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Harden had the game-sealing dunk off an excellent deflection by Eric Gordon. The 2018 MVP also had 15 rebounds, including 6 on the offensive end, on the night.

Final Score: Houston Rockets 114 - 110 New York Knicks

#1 James Harden vs Miami Heat - 58 points

James Harden scored 58 points and led the Rockets past the Heat

Stat line: 58 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists, 4 steals and a block on 50.0 % shooting

No surprises here. It is James Harden who had the best performance this year for the Rockets when he scored 58 points and led an incredible Rockets comeback from 21 points down in the third quarter to beat the Miami Heat 121-118.

He was aggressive and attacked the rim on several occasions, showing his offensive prowess. The defending MVP also had the highest assists (10) that night, to go along with his 7 rebounds.

Harden, who is known for his ability to draw a lot of fouls, went 18-for-18 from the charity stripe. His 58 points are the most points scored ever by a player against the New York Knicks. With the Heat leading 103-113 in the fourth quarter, the 29-year-old scored 10 points on a 14-0 run and shifted the momentum on the Rockets' side.

Final Score: Houston Rockets 121 - 118 Miami Heat