Harden's historic night helps Rockets defeat the Knicks

Posted: December 31, 2016 -- 10:31 pm CST.

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- James Harden has been sensational this season. Saturday night, Harden was historic. Harden scored a career-high 53 points, dished a career-tying 17 assists, and pulled down 16 rebounds.

53 points. 17 assists. 16 rebounds.

No other NBA player has posted 50 plus points; 15 plus assists; and 15 plus rebounds in a game.

James Harden - the first player in NBA history with with 50 points, 15 rebounds & 15 assists in a game. (via @EliasSports) pic.twitter.com/FH4WMXQISR

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) January 1, 2017

"It feels good, but, credit my teammates for knocking down shots and creating that opportunity and space for me to go out there and score and be who I am," Harden said matter-of-fact. "It wasn’t a pretty win, but it is a win and that’s all that matters. We just got to continue to get better and be ready for next game against the Wizards."

By the way, the Rockets defeated the Knicks 129-122 in front of an announced sellout crowd of 18,055.

"I think the mark of a great player is a guy where you kind of look up at the board and say 'Whoa' you know it's effortless almost," Ryan Anderson said of Harden's historic night. "If I score 53 points, it would be a shock, a complete shock for everybody. But, for James, it's like...But, for us sitting in the locker room after the game, alright he probably could get like 60, you know what I mean. It looked very effortless. But, it just goes to show how great of a player he is. He's just the best offensive player, in my opinion, by far, in the NBA."

Anderson added, "I just looked up at the scoreboard after the game. I was just kind of in awe of it. It's pretty unbelievable. He's such a great, great talent."

Harden has recorded a triple-double in each of the past two games and eight times this season -- after having nine triple-doubles in his career entering the 2016-'17 season. He joins Elvin Hayes (41 points, 27 rebounds, and 10 blocks versus the San Francisco Warriors, 2/14/1970) as the only players in franchise history to score 40 plus points while recording a triple-double.

The Rockets (26-9) trailed the Knicks (16-17) 32-27 after the first period; but, Harden scored 16 points in the second quarter to help the Rockets explode for 42 points in the quarter. The Rockets outscored the Knicks 42-42 in the quarter and led 69-55 at the half.

Harden scored 16 points in the third period to give him 40 points; but, the Knicks outscored the Rockets 37-30 in the third. Brandon Jennings (15 points) and Mindaugas Kuzminskas (12 points) combined for 27 of the 37 points.

Houston led 99-92 after three quarters.

The Knicks scored the first 4 points of the fourth quarter to slice the Rockets' lead to three points (99-96); but, Harden made three free throws (Knicks' guard Justin Holiday fouled Harden while Harden attempted a 3 point shot -- Holiday did this three times in the game). Ryan Anderson split two free throws; and, Eric Gordon nailed a three point shot; but, the Knicks refused to go away.

The Rockets led by three points four times the next four minutes before Harden sank three more free throws to begin a 13-2 Rockets' run to put the game out of reach.

Ryan Anderson scored 25 points on 8 for 12 field goal shooting (5 for 6 from three). The 25 points is Anderson's highest point total at home this season.

Eric Gordon scored 15 points; Trevor Ariza scored 14 points (7 rebounds and 4 assists); and, Montrezl Harrell added 13 points and 4 boards.

With tonight's win, the Rockets finish December with a 15-2 mark in the month. The 15 wins ties for the wins in a single  month in franchise history (November of 1996).

"You know we're good; but, we need to get a lot better because we've got a lot more aspirations -- not just a good month of December," said Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni.

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