Harden scores 51 in Rockets' win vs. 76ers
PHILADELPHIA -- James Harden had 51 points, 13 assists and 13 rebounds as the Houston Rockets beat the Philadelphia 76ers 123-118 on Friday night.
It was the 14th triple-double of the season for Harden, and the 18th time he has accumulated over 30 points and 10 assists. The latter is the highest single-season total since such numbers were first tracked in 1983-84, according to basketball-reference.com.
His point total was two off his season and career high of 53, against the New York Knicks on Dec. 31.
Nene added a season-high 21 points for the Rockets, who snapped a two-game losing streak.
Philadelphia rookie center Joel Embiid, back after missing the three previous games with a bruised left knee, topped the Sixers with 32 points, one shy of his career high.
T.J. McConnell and Gerald Henderson added 13 each.
Philadelphia saw a two-game winning streak and a six-game home winning streak come to an end.
Harden notched 17 of his points in the final 8:19, after Embiid crammed 11 points into the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, helping the Sixers shave a 12-point deficit to five.
Harden also scored 19 points in the third quarter.
Embiid opened the night's scoring with a driving left-handed dunk, but Nene answered with a layup and dunk of his own over the next few minutes, setting the tone for a fast-paced, back-and-forth first half.
The Rockets had 17 of their 25 turnovers and the Sixers 13 of their 22 in the half, but both teams also shot over 60 percent from the floor.
Houston led by 11 at one point, but Philadelphia ran off eight straight points to go up 61-56 lead late in the second quarter. Harden answered by nailing a short jumper, then nailed a 3-pointer with two seconds remaining in the period to forge a 61-all tie at the break.
Harden and Nene both had 15 points in the half, and Harden added seven assists and six rebounds. Sixers reserve guard Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot led his team with 12, matching his career high.
Embiid added 11 for Philadelphia.
Harden then piled up 12 points in the first 3:22 of the second half as Houston's advantage swelled to 77-64.
Harden capped his 19-point quarter with a fadeaway jumper from the left corner at the buzzer, after which he tumbled into the front row of the stands.
NOTES: Sixers coach Brett Brown called C Joel Embiid's failure to make the All-Star team "a little blip on his radar" and added that there is "no doubt" he belongs. "His time will come, in multiples," Brown said. ... Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni spent part of last season as a Sixers assistant and said it could have been "a little dicey there," given that he had previously served as head coach in Phoenix under Sixers advisor Jerry Colangelo and his son Bryan, now the team's general manager. But D'Antoni said Brown "really welcomed" him and that the two of them are "great friends." ... Houston G Eric Gordon missed his second straight game with lower back tightness. ... Sixers C Jahlil Okafor was in uniform after missing the two previous games with a sore right knee.