James Harden's 61 points leads Rockets over the Spurs

Byron L. Riley, CPA; 832-303-3995; Do you need tax help? IRS Tax help available- Free Consult

Posted: March 23, 2019 -- 10:15 a.m. CDT

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- James Harden rose to the occasion (and then some) Friday night in Houston's 111-105 win over the San Antonio Spurs. Harden was spectacular. Harden scored SIXTY-ONE points to tie his career-high. He was clutch down the stretch.

Harden scored 13 of Houston's last 17 points. The Rockets (46-27) trailed the Spurs (42-31) by six (100-94) with 4 minutes remaining in the game.

Harden went to work. Harden hit three consecutive three-point shots for a personal 9-0 run (in 68 seconds) to put the Rockets ahead 103-100. The second three-point basket was a 32-foot step back followed by a 30-foot three-point basket.

San Antonio's DeMar DeRozan scored a lay-up; but, Harden answered with a 9-foot shot and a 5-foot floater for a 107-102 lead. Chris Paul sank two foul shots to increase Houston's lead to 109-102.

The Spurs' Bryn Forbes made a 31-foot three-pointer which sliced Houston's lead to 109-105 with 34.2 seconds remaining; however, the Spurs did not score the rest of the game. Paul sank two more free throws to finish the scoring.

Byron L. Riley, CPA; 832-303-3995; Do you need tax help? IRS Tax help available- Free Consult

With the win, the Rockets take the season series against the Spurs 3-1 for the second straight season after losing the previous three series 3-1. Houston has won 13 of its past 15 games. San Antonio has lost two straight after winning a season-high nine in a row prior.

"I don't know how you get any better," Mike D'Antoni said after the game. "Whoever was in the gym tonight, probably (had) seen something they have never seen before, there's no way. That was one of the best performances – the magnitude in the game, we needed it. Just everything. I don't know how many points he got in the last four minutes, but we're down six - well I don't know (maybe) seven (points), plus his defense the whole game. Just everything. The guy was playing."

"I just knew how important this game was," Harden said matter-of-fact. "This was to take a 3-1 (series) lead in the regular season, we gave up one last game; so, this was an opportunity for us to take care of home. I wanted to come out with some aggressiveness."

Chris Paul said of Harden's performance, "I mean, zones, and step-backs, and floaters, and just studying the game. I think a lot of times people complain about the free-throws and all that; but, he knows the game. This is a game that we play; and, you have to be disciplined. When he goes and puts the ball out like that, you have to keep your hands in. You have to find a way to stop him; and, that tonight was pretty impressive."

Byron L. Riley, CPA; 832-303-3995; Do you need tax help? IRS Tax help available- Free Consult

NOTES:

Harden's 61 points is his second 60-point game of the season (61 at New York on 1/23) and the third of his career (60 vs. Orlando on 1/30/18). Harden is tied with Elgin Baylor for the fourth-most 60-point games (3) in NBA history. Harden becomes the first player to record multiple 60-point games in a single season since Kobe Bryant in 2006-07. Bryant also had two 60-point games in 2005-06. Prior to that, the last player with multiple 60-point games in a single season was Michael Jordan with two in 1986-87. Harden had 57 points in the Rockets last game at Memphis on 3/20. He has now scored 50+ points in consecutive games three times in his career. Only Wilt Chamberlain (23 times) had more streaks of scoring 50+ in NBA history. Elgin Baylor is the only other player with multiple streaks of scoring 50 or more points. Harden shot 9-of-13 from 3-point range tonight, marking his second game with 9 threes made in a game. Stephen Curry (twice) is the only other player to have hit 9 plus threes made in consecutive games in NBA history. Harden now has 1,981 threes for his career and moved past former Rocket Joe Johnson (1,978) for the 10th-most in NBA history. Next up is Jason Kidd with 1,988. Harden has hit 334 3-pointers this season, which is the second-highest single season total in NBA history. He also topped 2,500 points for the season tonight in his 69th game played (2,512). The last player to have scored at least 2,500 points within his first 70 games played in a season was Jordan in 1986-87.

NEXT:

The Rockets' next game is Sunday, March 24, in New Orleans, against the Pelicans, at 6 p.m.

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