http://www.chron.com/sports/rockets/article/James-Harden-s-scoring-streak-remains-steady-for-12439017.php
James Harden's scoring streak remains steady for Rockets
Published 11:54 am, Monday, December 18, 2017
Houston Rockets guard James Harden, right, dribbles as Milwaukee Bucks guard DeAndre Liggins defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessHouston Rockets guard James Harden, right, dribbles as Milwaukee Bucks guard DeAndre Liggins defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric
... moreHouston Rockets guard James Harden reacts after a 3-pointer by Chris Paul during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Houston won the game 115-111. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessHouston Rockets guard James Harden reacts after a 3-pointer by Chris Paul during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Houston won the game 115-111. (AP Photo/Eric
... moreHouston Rockets forward Tarik Black (28) drives to the basket as Milwaukee Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Houston won the game 115-111. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessHouston Rockets forward Tarik Black (28) drives to the basket as Milwaukee Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Houston won the
... moreHouston Rockets guard James Harden (13) drives between Milwaukee Bucks center Thon Maker, left, and guard Eric Bledsoe during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessHouston Rockets guard James Harden (13) drives between Milwaukee Bucks center Thon Maker, left, and guard Eric Bledsoe during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP
... moreHouston Rockets guard James Harden (13) passes the ball as Milwaukee Bucks forward John Henson, right, defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Houston won the game 115-111. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessHouston Rockets guard James Harden (13) passes the ball as Milwaukee Bucks forward John Henson, right, defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Houston won
... moreMilwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, left, shoots as Houston Rockets forward PJ Tucker defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessMilwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, left, shoots as Houston Rockets forward PJ Tucker defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric
... moreMilwaukee Bucks head coach Jason Kidd watches from the scorer's table during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessMilwaukee Bucks head coach Jason Kidd watches from the scorer's table during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian
... moreMilwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) drives as Houston Rockets guard James Harden defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessMilwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) drives as Houston Rockets guard James Harden defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric
... moreMilwaukee Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe (6) drives to the basket past Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessMilwaukee Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe (6) drives to the basket past Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric
... moreHouston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza (1) drives past Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessHouston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza (1) drives past Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric
... moreHouston Rockets center Nene Hilario, right, dunks as Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (22) watches during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessHouston Rockets center Nene Hilario, right, dunks as Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (22) watches during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric
... moreHouston Rockets guard James Harden, right, dribbles as Milwaukee Bucks guard DeAndre Liggins defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessHouston Rockets guard James Harden, right, dribbles as Milwaukee Bucks guard DeAndre Liggins defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric
... moreHouston Rockets forward Ryan Anderson, right, looks to pass as Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessHouston Rockets forward Ryan Anderson, right, looks to pass as Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP
... moreMilwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, left, attempts to steal the ball from Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessMilwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, left, attempts to steal the ball from Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP
... moreHouston Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni, right, talks with official Tyler Ford during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Houston won the game 115-111. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessHouston Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni, right, talks with official Tyler Ford during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Houston won the
... moreMilwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (22) shoots as Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza (1) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessMilwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (22) shoots as Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza (1) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric
... moreMilwaukee Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon (13) and John Henson walk the court during the final seconds of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Houston won the game 115-111. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessMilwaukee Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon (13) and John Henson walk the court during the final seconds of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Houston won the
... moreHouston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza holds his thigh during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Ariza remained in the game. Houston won the game 115-111. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessHouston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza holds his thigh during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Ariza remained in the game. Houston won
... moreMilwaukee Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe, right, is fouled by Houston Rockets forward Ryan Anderson during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Houston won the game 115-111. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessMilwaukee Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe, right, is fouled by Houston Rockets forward Ryan Anderson during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Houston won the game 115-111.
... moreMilwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, right, shoots over Houston Rockets forward Tarik Black (28) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Houston won the game 115-111. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessMilwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, right, shoots over Houston Rockets forward Tarik Black (28) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Houston won the
... moreMilwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton, left, dribbles as Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Houston won the game 115-111. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessMilwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton, left, dribbles as Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Houston won the game
... moreHouston Rockets guard James Harden reacts after making a 3-pointer during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Houston won the game 115-111. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessHouston Rockets guard James Harden reacts after making a 3-pointer during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Houston won the game
... moreRockets guard James Harden has scored at least 20 points in every game this season, moving him within one game of Moses Malone’s franchise record for scoring 20 points in 29-consecutive games.
As different as the playing styles of Harden and Malone are, Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni, who played with Malone with the ABA Spirits of St. Louis, saw similarities, too.
“They have a mentality … to succeed and a relentlessness going to the boards like Moses was or going to the rim in James,” D’Antoni said. “He’s just a professional scorer. Whatever you need, he can do. He has no flaws in his game. I don’t guess it’s odd that he gets 20 a night. If he’s playing, he gets 20.
“He’s smart and he can pass and sees the floor. He’s big and strong. He’s got everything.”
Harden’s streak is the seventh in which a player has scored at least 20 points in each of his team’s first 28 games since 1963-64 and just the third since 1971-72.
Houston Chronicle sports columnist Jerome Solomon speaks with Patti Smith the PR director for the Houston Sports Awards coming up February 8th, 2018 in Houston to celebrate the local professional athletes and what they have done.
Media: R. Carter, Houston ChronicleHarden played Saturday’s game with a painful bruise on his right knee, but said after the game he would be playing Monday against the Utah Jazz.
