James Harden Scores 25 To Lead Rockets Over Mavericks

In a Dec. 3 showdown, James Harden scored 25 as the Houston Rockets edged the Dallas Mavericks, 100-96.

Harden had a rough start to the game, scoring only five points in the first quarter and not getting to the free throw line like he usually does. The NBA’s free throw leader only got to the line five times, but got four points from it. Harden finished the first half shooting 3-12.

So Harden contributed in other ways. He had nine assists and eight rebounds, and found his shot in the second half. He went 7 of 11, including the game-sealing jumper. And while Harden’s shot wasn’t falling, his teammates three-point shots were raining down; the Rockets went 11 of 18 in the first half.

Perhaps Harden’s best assist came with 55 seconds left to go, and the game tied. He found Terrence Jones for the dunk, putting the Rockets up 98-96. Jones had 17 points, while Trevor Ariza finished with 18. Center Clint Capela, starting in place of a resting Dwight Howard, had ten rebounds but only two points. Five of the Rockets’ offensive rebounds were his.

For the Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki had 16 points and ten rebounds, while Deron Williams scored 22 and dished out six assists. Williams had eight turnovers, though.

After a bad 4-7 start, the Rockets are now 5-4 under interim head coach J.B. Bickerstaff after the team fired former head coach Kevin McHale. Their current record is 9-11.

“We can’t settle,” Bickerstaff told the media after the game. “We’re not where we want to be.”

They might not be where they want to be, but the Rockets are getting there, and a large part of that success can be attributed to their All-Star shooting guard.

“I’m just a playmaker,” Harden said. “If I’ve got a shot, I’ll shoot it. Or I make a pass.”