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

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

HOUSTON, TX - MAY 04: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets reacts in the fourth quarter during Game Three of the Second Round of the 2019 NBA Western Conference Playoffs against the Golden State Warriors at Toyota Center on May 4, 2019 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

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Photo by Jeff Haynes/Getty Images /

9. The 41-point Christmas Day spectacular against the Thunder

On an afternoon where the last two NBA MVPs collided on center stage, Harden demonstrated why most of his peers regard him as one of the best players in basketball on Christmas Day.

Despite taking the court without his backcourt running mate Chris Paul, Harden would shoulder the load in epic fashion, dropping a game-high 41 points and seven assists to lead Houston to a thrilling 113-109 win against Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

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"“[He is playing] up to another level that I don’t know maybe he’s ever been before,” Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni told Alykhan Bijani of The Athletic. “It’s hard to tell once he gets to that altitude, but he’s been playing great.”"

Although Harden scored at least 40 points or more in 28 games during the 2018-19 NBA season, the 10-year veteran showed his former mates why he is indeed one of the league’s best one-on-one playmakers in front of a nationally-televised audience.

Throughout the game, Harden mixed up how he attacked Oklahoma City, utilizing screens to manufacture countless scoring opportunities, making effective use of his ball-handling and hesitation moves to hit tough shots around the paint and perimeter, and providing stellar play in the clutch to help propel Houston to yet another victory.

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