Sports News With The Latest From The NBA
James Harden figures his scoring streak can continue forever. And why shouldn’t he?
“I’m just trying to keep going. Nothing can slow me down,” Harden said on Monday night after scoring 44 points in the Houston Rockets’ 118-110 victory over the Phoenix Suns. “Nothing can stop me.”
He’s been right so far.
Harden has scored at least 30 points in 27 consecutive games, the third longest streak in NBA history. He joins Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan and Rick Barry as the only players to score 40 points or more 20 times in the first 50 games of a season.
His next opportunity to extend that string comes Wednesday night when the Rockets visit the Sacramento Kings.
The Rockets, who were without two starters against the Suns, lean on Harden in the tough times. They’ve won their last two games and are 31-22 and in fifth place in the NBA’s Western Conference.
Harden was the NBA’s MVP last season, when he averaged 30.4 points a game. Now he’s over 36 points a game while leading the league in average minutes played per game (37.5).
Harden has heard the criticism from Kobe Bryant that the Rockets cannot compete for the NBA title with a one-man offense. And Harden agrees. He said he’s doing what he’s doing while the Rockets are short-handed and expects their style to change during the playoffs.
“I have to ball-dominate with all of the injuries,” he said. “We have had the injuries throughout the course of the year. Right now he (Bryant) is probably right. This way that we are playing won’t happen in the playoffs, won’t get us where we want to go, but we haven’t had a full roster. Yet I am excited for that to come.”
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman
-
Robert Kraft wants to re-sign Brady just long enough that he can retire as a Patriot. Earlier this week,...
-
The skilled third-baseman will be enshrined in Cooperstown. Scott Rolen is one of the most skilled and recognized third-basemen...
-
Brady’s 23rd football season has ended. On Monday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Dallas Cowboys went head-to-head for...
-
Smith has been fired after one season with the team. Over the weekend, the owners of the Houston Texans...
-
Pelé passed due to complications related to colon cancer. On Thursday night, the sporting world received unfortunate news: Pelé,...
-
His return heralded a victory over the Phoenix Suns. On Sunday, Houston Rockets coach Stephen Silas needed to take...
-
Mayfield will be available on waiver to other NFL teams. After an underwhelming performance in his current role as...
-
Mike White led the team to a decisive victory over the Bears over the weekend. On Saturday, the New...
-
The game has been moved out of New York due to an encroaching snowstorm. This weekend, the Buffalo Bills...
-
Negative pushback prompted the team to give the role to someone else. Recently, the Brooklyn Nets have been in...
-
The Bears got Claypool in exchange for a 2023 second-round pick. This week, the Pittsburgh Steelers cut a deal...
-
Belichick has cycled through several players in search of the right one. Recently, the New England Patriots have been...