Houston Rockets: Top 10 moments from James Harden’s historic season

1. The miracle at Oracle

Despite being without the services of Chris Paul and Eric Gordon due to injury, James Harden would still discover a way to kick off his new year in grand fashion.

In a back-and-forth duel where the Rockets trailed by as many as 20 points, Harden converted a miraculous 3-point shot over the arms of Draymond Green and Klay Thompson to help Clutch City earn a 135-134 overtime win against the Golden State Warriors on Jan. 3.

"“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 Western Conference 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 Houston would fall short in its playoff quest to dethrone Golden State for the fourth time in the last five seasons, no one can refute that Harden’s one-man act would prove to be enough on this night.

In a game where the Rockets needed all of his contributions, Harden would rise against all odds to hit several huge shots — and show a strong level of poise in front of a national audience — that would leave the 19,956 fans in attendance at Oracle Arena completely silent following the sound of the final buzzer.