Yéqīnghuí! A 40+ Point Game After Three Years — Can the "Houston Harden" Return?

James Harden, the player who once redefined the art of scoring in the NBA, has finally exploded for a performance that reminded everyone of his once-dominant self. On the eve of Thanksgiving, the Los Angeles Clippers demolished the Washington Wizards 121-96, and it was Harden who stole the show. In his most impressive game of the season, he played 32 minutes, shooting 13 of 22 from the field, 7 of 11 from three-point range, and 10 of 11 from the free-throw line. The result? 43 points, along with 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals, finishing with a +25 plus-minus rating.

What made this performance even more remarkable is the context. Harden had been averaging just 20.5 points per game before this explosion. In fact, he surpassed his season average in the first quarter alone, scoring 23 points in just 12 minutes. That was no fluke. It was a masterclass in scoring. With this game, Harden joined an elite group in NBA history — this was his 28th career 20+ point quarter, tying him with Damian Lillard for third most in NBA history, trailing only Stephen Curry (40) and Kobe Bryant (36). By halftime, Harden already had 31 points, marking the 29th time in his career that he scored 30+ points in a single half, surpassing Kobe Bryant’s 28 such occurrences and claiming the top spot in NBA history. This was also Harden’s 102nd career 40+ point game, putting him at fourth all-time, behind only Wilt Chamberlain (271), Michael Jordan (173), and Kobe Bryant (122).

What makes this performance even more noteworthy is that this was Harden’s first 40+ point game since March 28, 2021 — a span of more than three years. Back then, he was still a member of the Brooklyn Nets, before the devastating hamstring injury that altered his career trajectory. The Harden of old — the one who could effortlessly drop 40 points or more on any given night — seemed like a distant memory. But against the Wizards, we saw a glimpse of that Harden again, a moment where time seemed to rewind just for a few minutes.

The Decline: Is the "Houston Harden" Gone Forever?

To understand just how rare this performance was, we have to reflect on Harden’s recent journey. Since leaving the Houston Rockets, where he was a perennial MVP candidate and one of the most dominant offensive players in the league, Harden has faced a series of challenges. Injuries, changes in team dynamics, and a shift in playing style have all impacted his game. During his time in Houston, Harden was an offensive juggernaut, carrying the Rockets on his back year after year. He regularly put up 30+ point games as if it were routine, and 40+ point outings were not unusual. At his peak, Harden was a scoring machine who could take over games at will, orchestrating his team’s offense while simultaneously creating his own shot with ease.

But since his departure from Houston, particularly after his trade to the Brooklyn Nets and later to the Clippers, Harden’s scoring output has seen a decline. His game has been defined by his transition into a more facilitating role, where he’s asked to share the ball more and manage a more balanced offensive attack. This shift was inevitable, but it also came at the expense of Harden’s scoring ability. His efficiency has dropped. This season, his field goal percentage is a career-low 37.2%, and his three-point shooting is down to 32.0%, another career low. Harden’s real shooting percentage has dipped to 54.5%, a far cry from the 61.2% he posted last season.

Moreover, Harden’s usage rate has increased this season, reflecting his larger role in the Clippers' offense due to the absence of Kawhi Leonard. His usage rate is up to 28.7%, the highest it’s been since his final year in Houston, but it has come with diminishing returns. He is shouldering more of the offensive load, but the drop in his shooting efficiency highlights the struggle of adapting to a new environment, alongside managing the wear and tear that comes with age and past injuries.

Despite these challenges, the question remains: Can Harden ever return to his prime form? Is the “Houston Harden,” the one who could score 50 or more points with ease, really gone forever?

The Role of Harden’s Supporting Cast

It’s also important to consider the context of this 43-point game. Yes, the Wizards have one of the league’s worst defenses, and they were missing key players like Kyle Kuzma and Delon Wright, but it’s impossible to ignore the fact that Harden was playing without Paul George and Kawhi Leonard — two of the Clippers’ most important offensive and defensive pieces. In their absence, Harden took on a significantly heavier load, which allowed him to showcase his scoring ability in a way that had been rare in recent years. He stepped into the role of the team’s primary offensive weapon, something he had done so often in Houston.

The Clippers have struggled this season without Leonard and George, and Harden has had to fill the void. But when he has the ball in his hands and is given the freedom to operate, his scoring ability is still undeniable. It’s clear that when Harden finds his rhythm — especially in a fast-paced, open-court environment — he can still explode for massive scoring outputs. The key, however, is consistency. The performance against Washington is a reminder that when everything clicks for Harden, he is still a dangerous offensive weapon. But those moments have been few and far between since he left Houston.

Harden’s Role as a Playmaker

While Harden’s scoring ability might not be what it once was, his playmaking remains top-notch. He is still one of the best passers in the league, consistently setting up teammates with high-quality looks. This season, he is leading the Clippers in assists and has created over 400 points through his passes — ranking third in the league. What’s more impressive is that his assists have led to more points than his personal scoring, showing just how critical he is to the Clippers’ offensive flow. The team relies on him not just as a scorer, but as a facilitator, a role that he has embraced with increasing proficiency.

It’s also worth noting that Harden’s defense has seen improvement this season. Historically known as a player who would often take plays off on defense, Harden has shown noticeable strides in his defensive effort this season under the coaching of Tyronn Lue and Jeff Van Gundy. His defensive box plus-minus (DBPM), a metric that evaluates a player’s impact on defense, is currently at +1.5, the second-highest of his career. This improvement on defense, along with his playmaking and occasional scoring outbursts, has made him a much more well-rounded player than he has been in recent seasons.

The Question of Whether Harden Can Return to His "Houston" Form

For all the flashes of brilliance that Harden has shown, there’s still a nagging question: can he ever get back to being the consistent 30-40+ point scorer we saw in Houston? The game against the Wizards certainly suggests that the ability is still there, at least in certain situations. When Harden is engaged, and the conditions are right, he can still dominate offensively. But that version of Harden, the one who could put up 50 on any given night, feels distant. The years of heavy usage, the injuries, and the toll of his style of play have taken their effect.

Perhaps we’ll never see the “Houston Harden” again — the relentless scorer who could take over games and dismantle defenses. But Harden is still an elite player in his own right, one who can take over a game when needed, as he demonstrated against the Wizards. Whether or not this performance is a one-off remains to be seen, but for a brief moment, the ghost of “Houston Harden” came alive. And for those who remember those dominant years in Houston, it felt like a fleeting moment of nostalgia. The question now is whether Harden can summon that form more consistently, or if his best days are truly behind him.