James Harden Against Taking Days Off

There’s renewed focus on the controversy of NBA teams resting their top guys throughout the regular season, but James Harden says the issue is a non-starter for him.

Harden isn’t even willing to entertain the idea of taking a day off when healthy.

The leading MVP candidate was spectacular once again Monday night, dropping 39 points—capping things off with a sprinting, game-winning layup—and handing out 11 assists in the Rockets’ 125-124 win against the visiting Nuggets.

Per the AP:

“I was running so fast,” Harden said. “I felt like I was Usain Bolt.”

 

Harden had 39 points, 11 assists and was three rebounds shy of his 20th triple-double of the season. Houston outlasted Denver in a duel between the second- and third-highest scoring teams in the NBA.

 

Harden likely saved the game for Houston, too, when he batted down an inbounds pass to Mason Plumlee near the basket following his layup.

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