James Harden vs. Knicks: Stats, Highlights and Reaction

Houston Rockets star James Harden ended 2016 with a historic bang, accounting for 53 points, 17 assists and 16 rebounds in a 129-122 victory over the New York Knicks.Per ESPN Stats & Info, Harden's stat line is the first of its kind in NBA history:ESPN.com's Tom Haberstroh found a way to make Harden's already-impressive stat line look even better:Per Jonathan Feigen of theHouston Chronicle,Harden also put his name alongside Wilt Chamberlain's in the record books:Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook has generated most of the NBA's individual headlines this season. He warrants them by virtue of accumulating 16 triple-doubles already, including another one on Saturday that he got in fewer than 20 minutes of game time.Yet Harden deserves a spotlight just as big as Westbrook's. After taking criticismfor his style of play last season, the Beard has taken his game to a new level in his first season with head coach Mike D'Antoni.Harden entered Saturday's game averaging 27.8 points and career highs of 11.8 assists and 7.9 rebounds per game.FS1's Chris Broussard noted another reason why Harden can stand alongside Westbrook in the early MVP race:The Rockets were a mess last season, finishing 41-41, yet they are now keeping pace with the San Antonio Spurs in the Southwest Division. Harden's offensive evolution is one of the biggest reasons for the team's marked improvement.D'Antoni's fast-paced style of play hasn't led to postseason success, though this is a new era of basketball in which that could change.The Golden State Warriors have perfected the art of shooting an opponent into submission, though they also rank second in Basketball-Reference.com's defensive efficiency, compared to 18th for the Rockets.All of the playoff stuff will work itself out starting in April. Right now, Harden is showing the world why he is on the shortlist of best players in the world and taking his game to new heights seemingly every game.
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