On this date in 2019, James Harden went off for a career-high and franchise-record 61 points in a home win against the San Antonio Spurs.
In 37 minutes, he also recorded 7 rebounds and 3 steals while shooting 19-of-34 shooting from the field, 9-of-13 from beyond the arc, and 14-of-17 from the free-throw line. This was the second time he had scored 60 or more that season, having dropped 61 at the Madison Square Garden in January 2019.
With this game, he joined the likes of Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant to have multiple 60-point games in a single season.
The Beard started the game on fire, going off for an NBA season-high 27 points in the first quarter. He led the Rockets to a 36-24 first-quarter lead and a 62-47 halftime lead but a cold shooting stretch for his teammates meant the Spurs got right back into the game.
2⃣7⃣ points for Harden in the 1st Q!#Rockets 36#GoSpursGo 24
— NBA (@NBA) March 23, 2019
📱💻: https://t.co/cb8TXyNer6 pic.twitter.com/P5J538KSK5
With 3:57 left in the game, the Spurs led 100-94, and that's when Harden went on a personal 13-0 run that eventually helped the hosts clinch the game.
13-0 run for @JHarden13 en route to 61 PTS propels the @HoustonRockets to victory! #Rockets pic.twitter.com/9D0erDHOOR
— NBA (@NBA) March 23, 2019
This game was the eighth time that Harden had crossed the 50-point mark while the rest of the league combined had only done so 10 times.
The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA or its clubs.