SG James Harden produced another exceptional performance and the Rockets opted not to wilt down the stretch of a 118-110 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder that kept their playoff hopes afloat.Harden had a game-high 41 points plus nine assists and three steals, including one with 37.9 seconds left that preceded his full-court pass to Patrick Beverley, whose dunk gave Houston (38-39) a 112-104 lead.Harden posted 15 points and five assists in the fourth quarter alone.

SG James Harden had 24 points, eight rebounds and four assists Thursday to close the month of March with 457 points, 152 assists and 102 rebounds. According to Elias Sports Bureau, Harden is the first player to record at least 450 points, 150 assists and 100 rebounds in a single month since Oscar Robertson had 488 points, 151 assists and 102 rebounds in December 1967.

G James Harden scored 18 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter and the Rockets erupted for 66 points in the second half of a 106-100 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on a night LeBron James rested.Harden outscored the Cavs by himself in the fourth quarter, 18-16 to pull the Rockets a half-game ahead of the idle Dallas Mavericks for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference."In these situations, time and time again, we channel something special and unique when we get down," Rockets coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. "Desperation has to be the feeling, not panic when we get down -- and that's who we've been. Every game matters from this point on because we're trying to extend our season."

G James Harden is averaging 8.5 assists in his last 31 games and Rockets coach J.B. Bickerstaff has been pleased with his playmaking. "It's a two-part issue, though, because guys have to be in the right spots and he's got to get them the ball," Bickerstaff said. "His assists are up, and in terms of scoring, he's one of the best in the league at making a one-on-one play."

G James Harden poured in 34 points ton Sunday.

G James Harden has been hampered by a sprained left ankle but remained in the starting lineup on Wednesday night. He posted 26 points, seven rebounds, 10 assists and a career-high eight steals but missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer as the Rockets fell to the Jazz. Harden has started each of the team's 72 games this season and is on pace to play in all 82 for the first time since the 2010-11 season.

G James Harden paced the Rockets with 24 points on 7-of-17 shooting, and he added 16 assists. Harden was a game-time decision on whether he would play or not. But the league's second-leading scorer said he had to play, regardless of any pain he might be in."I had to be out there," Harden said. "For us every game counts. I had to put my individual, whatever I've got going on, to the side, and just try and go out there and get the win."

G James Harden scored 25 points but committed two crucial turnovers in the fourth quarter than enabled Atlanta to put the game away. Harden twisted an ankle when he was fouled by Sefolosha late in the third quarter. He played nearly seven minutes in the fourth quarter but failed to score."He tried to fight through it' he's a gamer," Houston coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. "I'm sure it had some impact."

SG James Harden, already the league leader in turnovers with 319, recorded nine against the Timberwolves, marking the ninth time this season he's posted at least eight turnovers in a single game. Harden has committed 29 turnovers over his last five games, and that includes a loss at Charlotte in which he had just one turnover in 33 minutes.

G James Harden paced the Rockets with 33 points and eight assists in a loss to the Clippers on Wednesday.

G James Harden finished with 15 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and three blocks Monday as the Rockets blasted the Grizzlies. "That's what I was doing tonight," Harden said of laboring to create open looks for his teammates. "I really wasn't trying to score, I was just being a facilitator, trying to do all the intangible things to get the win."

G James Harden, who started the season slowly as coach Kevin McHale lost his job, is on fire as the Rockets have roared into playoff contention. Harden is averaging 34.5 points per game over the last 13 games and Friday night scored nine of his 32 in the final 3:09 to salt away a 102-98 road win over the Boston Celtics. The only negative for Harden is that he is 1-for-14 from 3-point range, 17-for-45 overall from the field over the last two games.

G James Harden scored 29 points to go along with nine rebounds and eight assists as the Rockets defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 118-104 Wednesday at the Wells Fargo Center.Harden didn't shoot particularly well (8-for-26), but he knocked down all 13 of his free throws.

G James Harden, who entered game averaging 26.3 points per game in four career visits to Toronto, his highest scoring average of any opposing venue, scored 40 points Sunday. Half of his total came in the fourth quarter as the Rockets erased an 85-77, third-quarter deficit to avoid a second consecutive loss.

G James Harden carried the momentum from his fabulous February into March, scoring 39 points (despite 1-for-8 shooting on 3-pointers) while grabbing 12 rebounds, dishing out seven assists and adding four steals on Wednesday. Harden averaged 31.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game last month.

F James Harden brought the Rockets back in the second quarter, hitting all four of his shots, including a 3-pointer, for 10 of his 26 points.

SG James Harden scored 34 of his 46 points in the second half - 19 in the fourth quarter as the Rockets outscored the Blazers 34-12 over the final 12 minutes. Harden was 11-for-13 from the field and 9-for-10 from the foul line in the second half.

SG James Harden torched the Jazz for the third time this season, scoring 42 points on 16-of-30 shooting. It was the third consecutive game against Utah in which he scored 30 or more points this season. Harden's 12-point third quarter helped the Rockets claw back into a game in which they shot poorly and trailed by 11 points.

G James Harden collected 34 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds in the Rockets' loss at Portland on Wednesday. Harden has averaged 37.3 points in three games against Portland this season.

G James Harden was scoreless in the first quarter, but he poured in 18 points in the second quarter to rally Houston back into the game. He finished with a game-high 37 points, and he added five rebounds, five assists and three steals.