Harden's Triple-Double Features a 60-Point Explosion

Talk about making your own sorta magic.

Against the Magic, no less.

James Harden absolutely went off on Orlando, ringing up 60 points, 10 boards, 11 dimes, and even worked in 4 steals en route to leading the Rockets to a 114-107 victory.

 

Houston needed everything Harden could deliver, too, what with their short bench.

Dude logged 46 minutes and, obviously, took up any possible slack that the situation dictated.

 

Now, that's a triple-double.

 

Neither could Orlando.

That's what happens when a team buys into the old bromide about letting the star get his points and stopping everyone else.

Harden, as we saw, outscored the rest of the Rockets combined.

So much for that theory.

 

Houston expected Harden to be the key to their season, but they also figured they'd done enough with the rest of the roster to make a major run at the title.

However, as his recent absence due to a hamstring injury showed, if he's not full blast, their ceiling's the semi-finals, if that.

Maybe that's the thought that'll attract LeBron James to the Rockets. Someone's already there to carry the load.