NEW YORK — “Forty-something?”
That was James Harden’s guess as to Wilt Chamberlain’s record for consecutive games of scoring at least 30 points — a streak that now stands at 20 games as Harden gets ready to play Wednesday night against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
The record is actually 65, which Chamberlain did from November of 1961 through February of 1962.
Chamberlain also holds second and third place on the 30-plus list, doing it in 31 consecutive games between February, 1962 and December, 1962 (that streak encompassed games played in different seasons); and 25 games from November, 1960 through December, 1960.
Harden’s over/under for points Monday night against Philadelphia was 41.5, and his number for Wednesday night is just a tick higher, according to BetDSI’s early odds. But given that the Knicks are a terrible team, and given that Harden coyly said he was awaiting his first true “MSG Moment,” and the number has been set at 42.5, which is the highest player point total in the history of NBA props.
Harden’s string of 30-point games has put him atop the board in MVP betting, with Giannis Antetokounmpo now the second choice.
Chasing Wilt. pic.twitter.com/izygr8I2zz
— Chris Sheridan (@sheridanhoops) January 22, 2019
The last time Harden failed to score 30 points in a game was when he tallied 29 against the Portland Trail Blazers on Dec. 11, and he has scored exactly 200 points in his past four games — an achievement that has been done only six times in the past 50 seasons (four times by Kobe Bryant and twice by Harden). Making Harden’s play even more remarkable is that none of those points have come via an assist, per ESPN.com.
Harden also has hit 213 3-pointers this season, marking the most by any NBA player through his first 43 games of the season.
So the question becomes: When will it end?
“You’re asking the wrong guy actually,” coach Mike D’Antoni said Tuesday prior to the Rockets practice at Baruch College. “I’m sure he’ll have an off-day one day and it won’t happen, and hopefully we’re more concerned about winning.
“I don’t see it ending, but at the same time … any day.”
Harden, leading the Rockets in scoring at 35.7 points per game, has scored 50 or more points three times during the streak and between 40 and 50 nine times.
He still does not have the NBA season-high, which has belonged to Kemba Walker since he dropped 60 on the Sixers back in November. There are more than a handful of players capable of reaching that number, but no one seems more likely than Harden.
“When you talk about Kobe and Wilt and Jordan, now we’re talking about the elites of the game — the greatest to ever touch a basketball.
“It’s honorable to be up there with their names. I have a long way to go to accomplish what they accomplished in their careers, but it’s pretty cool to be in that conversation. I’ve got a lot of work to do, and it starts today,” Harden said.
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Here are some more facts and figures about Harden’s streak, per USA Today:
► Harden is averaging 42.3 points a game during his streak. He’s averaging 40.2 points over his last 23 games. Only Chamberlain (515), Elgin Baylor (33) and Kobe Bryant (23) have ever averaged at least 40 points over as many games — and no, 515 is not a typo.
► Harden has raised his season scoring average to 35.7 points a game. In the last 40 years, Michael Jordan is the only player to average more over a season (37.1 in 1986-87).
► The last four games have been particularly prolific, with Harden scoring a total of 200 points. He’s the first player with 200 in a four-game span since Kobe Bryant in March 2007, and none of Harden’s points have come via an assist from a teammate.
► The reigning MVP has scored at least 40 points 12 times during his streak (and 16 times overall this season). Anthony Davis is second in the league this season with seven 40-point games, and Steph Curry has six.
