James Harden’s incredible streak of consecutive games with at least 30 points came to an end on Monday night, when he “only” scored 28 points. He followed that up with a 30-point performance on Wednesday to start a new streak, and took things to another level on Thursday night.
Harden scored 58 points, while also having 10 assists, seven rebounds, and four rebounds in the Houston Rockets’ 121-118 victory over the Miami Heat. The Rockets were also down 21 points, making Harden’s’ efforts even more special (and necessary).
Rockets 121, Heat 118 (final). James Harden: 58 points, 16-32 FG, 8-18 3s, 18-18 FT, 7 rebounds, 10 assists, 4 steals, 1 block
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) March 1, 2019
Harden was particularly lethal at the free-throw line, sinking 18-of-18 attempts from the charity stripe.
This is the seventh time in Harden’s career that he’s scored at least 50 points and dished out at least 10 assists. Nobody else in NBA history has done that more than three times.
This is James Harden’s seventh career 50-point, 10-assist performance. Nobody else in NBA history has more than three. He has the only 60/10 night — and is two points shy of another.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) March 1, 2019
Harden is now tied for fourth in NBA history for games with 55+ points, and four of them have come in 2019. If you were to have wagered on that with the betting odds before this season, you would have stand to win a lot of money!
Players in NBA history with the most 55+ PTS games.
Wilt: 72
Kobe: 9
MJ: 9
Elgin Baylor: 6
James Harden: 6*
Rick Barry: 5
LeBron: 4* 4 in 2019!!!! pic.twitter.com/OsdTFI6cTG
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) March 1, 2019
And he’s fourth in NBA history for games with 58+ points. He’s only two games behind some guy named Michael Jordan.
Most Games with 58+ Points in NBA History
Wilt Chamberlain: 49
Kobe Bryant: 7
Michael Jordan: 6
James Harden: 4
Elgin Baylor: 3#Rockets— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) March 1, 2019
