James Harden drops 50 in narrow victory over lowly 76ers
The Houston Rockets (6-10) needed every one of James Harden's 50 points to not only end the team's three-game losing streak, but to hold off the winless Philadelphia 76ers (0-17) at the Toyota Center.
Harden scored a season-high 50 points - one short of his career high - on 14-of-28 shooting from the field, 6-of-12 from deep, and 16-of-20 from the charity stripe to lead the Rockets to a 116-114 win over the 76ers on Friday night. He barely missed out on his first triple-double of the season, grabbing nine rebounds and dishing out eight assists, although he did turn over the basketball on nine occasions.
ROCKETS WIN! Harden scores 50 along with 9 rebounds & 8 assists. Capela with 13p/10r, Howard 14p/13r. pic.twitter.com/IJCjtbHGM3
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) November 28, 2015
James Harden's Shot Chart vs. 76ers
The 26-year-old shooting guard became the first Rockets player in franchise history to record three 50-point games in his career, according to ESPN.com. Other than "The Beard," no other player in the NBA has scored 50 or more points on three different occasions in the last two seasons.
James Harden: 3rd career 50-point game (all with Rockets), most in franchise history (Hakeem Olajuwon, Moses Malone, Elvin Hayes all with 2)
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 28, 2015
Missed free throws by the three-time All-Star late in the fourth quarter created enough of an opportunity for the 76ers to keep things close after blowing a 104-97 lead with five minutes remaining. Philadelphia and its 30th-ranked offense couldn't execute down the stretch, though. The Sixers' best chance of tying things up on the scoreboard came when Corey Brewer fouled Hollis Thompson on a 3-pointer with 6.2 seconds left on the game clock.
Houston will look to string together consecutive wins for the first time since Nov. 7 on Sunday night when it visits the the Big Apple to take on the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.