Houston Rockets: Top 5 moments from James Harden’s 30-point streak

1. The miracle at Oracle

Despite being without the services of backcourt mates Chris Paul and Eric Gordon due to injury, James Harden would find a way to kick off the new year with a bang, rising against all odds to hit several huge shots — and a precious triple in overtime — in a nationally-televised showcase that would silence the 19,596 fans at Oracle Arena.

In a back-and-forth, highly-contested game where the Rockets were once down by as many as 20 points, Harden converted on a miraculous 3-point shot over the arms of Draymond Green and Klay Thompson to help Clutch City earn a 135-134 comeback win against the Golden State Warriors in a thrilling rematch of last year’s Western Conference Finals.

"“You could argue for him as the best offensive player of all-time,” Rockets general manager Daryl Morey told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon following Harden’s 44-point, 15-assist and 10-rebound night against the defending champs. “To be able to say that with a straight face, and not have it be GM speak or coach speak, is pretty amazing. There’s a whole bunch of ways to measure it, but he’s for sure in the conversation as the greatest offensive player ever.”"

Although The Beard’s game-winner is likely to bear no meaning should the two teams meet again in the playoffs, no one can refute the notion that Harden’s one-man act was indeed legit, as the league’s leading scorer helped guide the Rockets back to shore in one of the league’s toughest environments.

The 30-point streak is over, but Harden and the Rockets will seek to vie for their seventh win in the last 10 games as they get ready to take on Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Hornets Wednesday night.