James Harden Extends 30-Point Game Streak to 17

James Harden continued his fine form for the Houston Rockets during a 112 – 94 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

James Harden scored a season – high 57 points against Memphis on Monday night, after having also played on Sunday.

In Sunday’s defeat to the Orlando Magic, James Harden finished with 38 points. In doing so, he equalled Kobe Bryant’s record of 16 consecutive 30 point games from 2002 – 2003.

With his whopper performance on Monday night, Harden moves ahead of Bryant with 17.

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There was also a record for Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni, who recorded the 600th win of his NBA coaching career. D’Antoni had been concerned that Harden was ‘dog tired’, especially after his poor shooting from range against Orlando.

“What he just did, we kind of take it for granted a little bit,” said D’Antoni.

“It’s like, ‘Oh, look at that, isn’t that cute? It’s 57!’ I mean, on dead legs and he played 43 minutes last night. It’s beyond impressive. It’s rare that people can do what he’s done, if anybody.”

Harden’s streak of 30 point games is now the longest since Wilt Chamberlain’s 20 game streak in 1964. The only other player with a streak of 16 games was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1972.

Harden almost reached a Rockets franchise record for most points in a half on Monday night. He finished the first half with 36, just one less than Vernon Maxwell’s franchise record.

After the match, though, Harden’s focus was only on the next game.

“The win was important,” Harden said.

“I’ve got to get some rest tomorrow and be ready to go Wednesday. Same thing.”

Read: James Harden Equals Kobe Bryant’s 30 Point Record

“I know that we had to win the game,” he said.

I know we let one slip away last night, and it was another opportunity for us to win tonight. I don’t know if it was an emotional lift, but I know it’s crunch time in the sense that we’ve got three starters out and guys have got to pick up the slack. There’s no excuse.”