James Harden was already on an unbelievable run over the last five weeks, and then Wednesday night happened.
The Houston Rockets’ guard dropped a franchise-record 61 points (17-of-38 FG, 22-of-25 FT) on the New York Knicks, and the Rockets needed just about every point in the 114-110 victory. Harden sealed the victory with this steal and dunk:
James Harden seals the win for the Rockets and ends his night with 61 PTS at MSG! #Rockets pic.twitter.com/VDoGHIzEPs
— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 24, 2019
Scoring 61 points is amazing enough, but many stats and factoids about Harden emerged after the game that are particularly stunning. Let’s go through some of those…
Harden is averaging 52.2 points over his last five games.
James Harden over his last five games…
>>> Oh just 52.2 points per game pic.twitter.com/O7nWde24rT
— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) January 24, 2019
James Harden last five games:
57 points vs. MEM
58 points vs. BKN
48 points vs. LAL
37 points vs. PHI
61 points vs. NYKSheesh pic.twitter.com/O23fjXOoJ2
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) January 24, 2019
Harden is the first player to score at least 55 points three times in a calendar month since Wilt Chamberlain did so in 1963.
James Harden is the first player to score 55 points or more three times in a single calendar month since Wilt Chamberlain in January 1963 🔥 pic.twitter.com/CfkrcHeCBj
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 24, 2019
Harden is the first player since Shaquille O’Neal in 2000 to score 60 points and pull down 15 rebounds in the same game.
Tonight, James Harden became the first player with 60+ points and 15+ rebounds since Shaquille O'Neal in 2000.
He's the first player with 60/15 against the Knicks since Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game on March 2, 1962. #Rockets
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) January 24, 2019
Harden outscored the Knicks’ starting five 61-59.
James Harden outscored all 5 of the Knicks’ starters combined. Good lord.
— Isaac Gutierrez (@byisaacg) January 24, 2019
Harden has scored more than 1,000 points over his last 25 games.
https://twitter.com/bballwriters/status/1088261620973871104
Harden has scored at least 56 points three times over the last nine days. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — the NBA’s all-time leading scorer — *never* scored 56+ points in a game.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA's all-time leading scorer, never scored 56 or more points in a NBA game. James Harden has done it three times in the last nine days.
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) January 24, 2019
Harden is averaging 42.5 points since Dec. 11.
With 61 points tonight against the Knicks, James Harden is now averaging 42.5 points since this historic run started on December 11. The Rockets are 16-6 during this stretch. Holy cow. https://t.co/uD44fMWQf5
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) January 24, 2019
Harden is now averaging 36.3 points on the season.
James Harden is averaging 36.3PPG after tonight's 61 point outburst.
Michael Jordan's 37.1PPG season is within reach.
— NBABeau (@NBABeau) January 24, 2019
And the most incredible one: all 261 of Harden’s points in this five-game stretch have been unassisted. The unassisted point streak is overall at 263 for Harden.
James Harden, including tonight’s 61 points vs. the Knicks, has scored 261 POINTS in his last 5 games. All of these points were UNASSISTED. He also racked up 21 assists total in this stretch. Absolutely remarkable. #Rockets
— Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) January 24, 2019
https://twitter.com/WorldWideWob/status/1088272672952369152
Harden will look to keep up his insane run when the Rockets host the Raptors on Friday night in Houston.
