After 32 consecutive games with 30 or more points, James Harden’s scoring streak came to a close against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday. He had 28 points. Even with the opportunity to extend his streak with the final shot of the game, he was content to let it end.
For the duration of Harden’s streak, the Houston Rockets struggled to piece together a healthy roster. Chris Paul, Eric Gordon, and Clint Capela, along with several others missed time. But, with the team finally healthy, it is no longer necessary for Harden to carry it every night.
Of course, Harden is still the Rockets’ leader and will continue to push them forward. Recovering from a neck injury, he got up 21 shots against Atlanta (he averaged 27.5 field goal attempts over the last 32 games).
Harden was 0-10 from three, which certainly impacted his production, but Houston did not need him to produce. That weight being lifted from his shoulders takes an immense amount of pressure off. We will finally see what these Rockets, as a team, can do.
