James Harden Scores 61 Points as Rockets Beat Knicks

The Houston Rockets’ James Harden has been on a scoring binge this season, and he shows no signs of slowing down. Harden scored a career high 61 points as Houston beat the Knicks 114-110 at Madison Square Garden in New York on January 23rd.

It was the fifth time he had scored 50 or more points this season, and the 21st game in a row of scoring 30 or better. He hit 22 of 25 free throws and grabbed 15 rebounds. Still, the tenacious Knicks fought all the way to the end in a seesaw contest before the Rockets took the lead for the final time on an Eric Gordon three pointer with 9.8 seconds left to make it 112-100 Houston. Harden scored once more with 3.8 seconds left to end it at 114-110.

Harden is averaging 36.3 points per game through games of January 23rd, a full seven points better than his closest competitors, Anthony Davis of New Orleans and Stephen Curry of Golden State. Houston is in first place in the Southwest at 27-20, a game ahead of San Antonio, and fifth overall in the Western Conference. The Knicks, who have lost seven in a row and 14 of 15, are 10-36 and having a bad season even by their standards. They can be thankful that they are in the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Lebron-less Cavs are 9-40 and are bringing up the rear in the East.