James Harden scores career-high 50 points in win against Nuggets

Rockets guard James Harden scored a career-high 50 points against the Nuggets on Thursday.
James Harden scores career-high 50 points in win against Nuggets
James Harden scores career-high 50 points in win against Nuggets /

James Harden poured in a career-high 50 points during Houston's 118-108 home victory over Denver on Thursday, becoming the fifth player to top the 50-point mark this season. 

[daily_cut.NBA] The three-time All-Star shooting guard eclipsed his previous career-high of 46 points, set on Feb. 20, 2013, against the Thunder. Harden joins Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (57 and 55), Warriors guards Klay Thompson (52) and Stephen Curry (51), and Timberwolves guard Mo Williams (52) as the only players to score 50 or more points in a game this season.

"My teammates did an unbelievable job tonight," Harden told CSN Houston during a postgame interview. "Every night. Every single night. Getting me open, getting me shots. All glory to God."​

MORE NBA: Jenkins on Harden | The Fundamentals | Big Board

Harden, the NBA's second-leading scorer, shot 12 for 27 from the field, 4 for 12 from deep and 22 for 25 from the free-throw line, including 12 points in the game's final 6:16 to close out the double-digit victory. He added 10 rebounds, four assists and one steal in 40 minutes, although this was far from Harden's best shooting night.

harden-50

a NBA season-high with 22 made free throws, passing his own mark of 19 against the Blazers on Feb. 8. The last person to make at least 22 free throws in a game? Harden, of course, when he hit 22 against the

Grizzlies

on Dec. 26, 2013.

Trevor Ariza added 17 points, six rebounds and four assists for the Rockets.

• MORE NBA: Butler’s case for NBA's Most Improved | Give and Go

Randy Foye and Wilson Chandler each scored 23 points for the Nuggets. Kenneth Faried added 19 points and 12 rebounds.

Houston improved to 46-22. Denver dropped to 26-43.

GALLERY: ALL OF THE NBA'S 50-POINT SCORERS SINCE 2004

50-Point Scorers Last 11 Years

James Harden (once)

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Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images

Thirty-four players have scored 50 or more points in a game over the past 11 years, some, of course, more than once. Here's a rundown, beginning with the most recent occurrence -- the 50 James Harden put up against Sacramento on April 1, 2015.

Ray Allen (twice)

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Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images

51 vs Chicago (April 30, 2009, Pictured) 54 vs Utah (January 12, 2007)

Carmelo Anthony (four)

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David Dow

62 vs. Charlotte (Jan. 24, 2014, Pictured) 50 vs. Miami (April 2, 2013) 50 vs Houston (February 7, 2011) 50 vs New York (November 27, 2009)

Gilbert Arenas (three)

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John W. McDonough/SI

51 vs Utah (January 15, 2007) 54 vs Phoenix (December 22, 2006) 60 vs Lakers (December 17, 2006, Pictured)

Kobe Bryant (23)

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Jeff Lewis/Icon SMI

50 vs Seattle (April 15, 2007) 50 vs Clippers (April 12, 2007) 50 vs New Orleans (March 23, 2007) 50 vs Minnesota (March 18, 2007) 50 vs Portland (April 14, 2006) 50 vs Phoenix (May 4, 2006) 50 vs Clippers (January 7, 2006) 51 vs Phoenix (April 7, 2006) 51 vs Sacramento (January 19, 2006) 51 vs Denver (February 12, 2003) 52 vs Dallas (March 2, 2008) 52 vs Utah (November 30, 2006) 52 vs Houston (February 18, 2003) 53 vs Memphis (March 28, 2008) 53 vs Houston (March 30, 2007) 53 vs Houston (December 15, 2006) 55 vs Washington (March 28, 2003) 58 vs Charlotte (December 29, 2006) 60 vs Memphis (March 22, 2007) 61 vs New York (February 2, 2009) 62 vs Dallas (December 20, 2005) 65 vs Portland (March 16, 2007) 81 vs Toronto (January 22, 2006, Pictured)

Vince Carter (once)

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Gary Rothstein/Icon SMI

51 vs Miami (December 23, 2005)

Jamal Crawford (three)

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Kent Smith/NBAE/Getty Images

50 vs Toronto (April 11, 2004) 50 vs Charlotte (December 20, 2008, Pictured) 52 vs Miami (January 26, 2007)

Stephen Curry (once)

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Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

54 vs. New York (Feb. 27, 2013)

Kevin Durant (four)

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Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images

51 vs Toronto (March 21, 2014, Pictured) 54 vs. Golden State (Jan. 17, 2014) 52 vs Dallas (January 18, 2013) 51 vs Denver (February 19, 2012)

Richard Hamilton (once)

Richard-Hamilton.jpg
Rebecca Cook/Reuters

51 vs New York (December 27, 2006)

Allan Houston (twice)

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Chad Rachman/AP

50 vs Milwaukee (March 16, 2003, Pictured) 53 vs Lakers (February 16, 2003)

Kyrie Irving (twice)

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David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images

57 vs. San Antonio (March 12,. 2015) 55 vs. Portland (Jan. 28, 2015, Pictured)

Allen Iverson (seven)

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Garrett Ellwood/NBAE/Getty Images

50 vs Atlanta (November 29, 2003) 51 vs Lakers (December 5, 2007, Pictured) 51 vs Utah (December 20, 2004) 53 vs Atlanta (Devember 23, 2005) 54 vs Milwaukee (December 18, 2004) 55 vs New Orleans Hornets (April 20, 2003) 60 vs Orlando (February 12, 2005)

LeBron James (ten)

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Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images

61 vs. Charlotte (March 3, 2014, pictured) 50 vs New York (March 5, 2008) 51 vs Orlando (February 3, 2011) 51 vs Sacramento (March 13, 2009) 51 vs Memphis (January 15, 2008) 51 vs Utah (January 21, 2006) 52 vs New York (February 4, 2009) 52 vs Milwaukee (December 10, 2005) 55 vs Milwaukee (February 20, 2009) 56 vs Toronto (March 20, 2005)

Brandon Jennings (once)

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Gary Dineen/NBAE/Getty Images

55 vs Golden State (November 14, 2009)

Rashard Lewis (once)

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Shizuo Kambayashi/AP

50 vs Clippers (October 31, 2003)

Kevin Love (once)

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Garrett Ellwood/Getty Images

51 vs Oklahoma City (March 23, 2012)

Tracy McGrady (three)

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Peter Cosgrove/AP

51 vs Denver (November 14, 2003) 52 vs Chicago (February 21, 2003) 62 vs Washington (March 10, 2004, Pictured)

Kevin Martin (once)

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Ben Margot/AP

50 vs Golden State (April 1, 2009)

Jamal Mashburn (once)

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Gregory Shamus/NBAE/Getty Images

50 vs Memphis (February 21, 2003)

Andre Miller (once)

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Albert Pena/Icon SMI

52 vs Dallas (January 30, 2010)

Dirk Nowitzki (three)

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Tony Guiterrez/AP

50 vs Phoenix (June 1, 2006) 51 vs Golden State (March 23, 2006) 53 vs Houston (December 2, 2004, Pictured)

Jermaine O'Neal (once)

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John Harrell/AP

55 vs Milwaukee (January 4, 2005)

Tony Parker (once)

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D. Clarke Evans/NBAE/Getty Images

55 vs Minnesota (November 5, 2008)

Paul Pierce (once)

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Justin Ide/Reuters

50 vs Cleveland (February 15, 2006)

Michael Redd (twice)

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Gary Dineen/NBAE/Getty Images

52 vs Chicago (March 4, 2007) 57 vs Utah (November 11, 2006, Pictured)

Terrence Ross (one)

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Ron Turenne/NBAE

51 vs. L.A. Clippers (Jan. 25, 2014)

Brandon Roy (once)

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Steve Dipaola/Reuters

52 vs Phoenix (December 18, 2008)

Damon Stoudamire (once)

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Chris Graythen/AP

54 vs New Orleans Hornets (January 14, 2005)

Amare Stoudemire (once)

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Tom Hood/AP

50 vs Portland (January 2, 2005)

Klay Thompson (once)

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Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images

52 vs. Sacramento, Jan. 24, 2015

Dwyane Wade (three)

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Wilfredo Lee/AP

50 vs Utah (March 14, 2009) 50 vs Orlando (February 22, 2009) 55 vs New York (April 12, 2009, Pictured)

Deron Williams (once)

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Kent Smith/NBAE/Getty Images

57 vs Charlotte (March 4, 2012)

Mo Williams (once)

Mo-Williams.jpg
R Brent Smith/AP

52 vs. Indiana, Jan. 13, 2015


Published
Ben Golliver
BEN GOLLIVER

Ben Golliver is a staff writer for SI.com and has covered the NBA for various outlets since 2007. The native Oregonian and Johns Hopkins University graduate currently resides in Los Angeles.