LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers travel to Houston for a matchup with James Harden and the Rockets on Saturday. It will mark the 20th time that these two MVP’s have met during the regular season dating back to their first meeting in 2009. The two superstars also collided during the 2012 NBA Finals when Harden played for the Oklahoma City Thunder and LeBron was a member of the Miami Heat.
During those 19 head-to-head matchups in the regular season, the statistical averages of each player is markedly similar. LeBron is averaging 27.4 points, 6.8 assists and 6.8 rebounds while Harden has averaged 24.2 points, 6.6 assists and 6.1 rebounds according to Basketball-Reference. LeBron has won 10 of those games and Harden has won nine. Along the way, these two superstars have also combined to offer some classic individual duels.
There have been four times that LeBron and Harden each scored at least 30 points while competing against each other in the same game. Those four contests were decided by an average of 4.2 points and include the following.
- February 6, 2013: Harden scored 36 while James scored 32 but the Miami Heat earned a 114-108 victory over the Houston Rockets.
- March 1, 2015: LeBron scored 37 but Harden scored 33 and led Houston to a 105-103 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
- March 12, 2017: Harden scored 38 and led the Rockets to a 117-112 win over the Cavs despite 30 from LeBron.
- November 9, 2017: LeBron scored 33 but Harden countered with 35 while earning the 117-113 victory.
Since LeBron joined the Lakers, Harden has a 2-1 record against King James while posting huge numbers. During those three games last season, the Rockets superstar averaged 38.6 points, 7.3 assists and 7.6 rebounds. LeBron countered with 27.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and five assists.
What will need to improve for LeBron on Saturday is that assist total if his Lakers are to secure the road victory and build on their 6.5 game lead over the No. 5 Rockets. If King James can get to his 10.9 assists-per-game average it might be over for Houston regardless of how many points Harden hangs on the board.
