Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden became the fourth player in NBA history to reach 23,000 points and 6,500 assists in his 14-year career in Friday night’s 133-122 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
The 10-time All-Star joins Oscar Robertson, LeBron James and Russell Westbrook. Harden reached this milestone with the Lakers after picking up his sixth assist of the game.
According to several NBA betting sites, James Harden and the Philadelphia 76ers have the 12th-best odds to win the championship in 2023.
James Harden is the 4th player in NBA history with 23,000 career points and 6,500 career assists, joining Oscar Robertson, LeBron James and Russell Westbrook with his sixth assist tonight. pic.twitter.com/GxnLnhrfVS
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 10, 2022
James Harden finished with 28 points, four rebounds, 12 assists, two steals and one block in 48 minutes of play. It was his sixth double-double of the season. He also finished 9-of-19 (47.4%) from the floor and 3-of-8 (37.5%) from beyond the arc.
Harden ranks 33rd overall on the NBA’s all-time scoring list with 23,724 points. Charles Barkley needs 34 points to pass for 32nd place. The leading Sixers point guard leads are Kevin Durant (26,336) and LeBron James (37,524).
76ers star James Harden is the fourth player in NBA history to reach 23,000 points and 6,500 assists, joining Oscar Robertson, LeBron James and Russell Westbrook.
Harden also ranks 27th in career assists (6,506). He trails four active players: Kyle Lowry (6,620), Westbrook (8,791), James (10,160) and Chris Paul (11,082).
The 33-year-old will catch up to Lowry, and there is little chance that he will pass Westbrook at some point. However, as long as James and Paul continue to play, they are safe for the future.
In the Sixers overtime game against the Lakers, Joel Embiid scored 20 points in the first quarter alone. Of course, he added his 10th double-double overall of the season. The Sixers center finished with 38 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and one steal in 47 minutes.
With less than three minutes to go in the fourth quarter, the 76ers took a nine-point lead. Late in the fourth quarter, Lakers players Austin Reaves and Anthony Davis were sent to the foul line.
James Harden is averaging 42.5 MPG in his 2 games back from injury.
Doc Rivers said he will be on the minutes limit before the first game.
Do what you want with this information
– President💊 (@President Embiid) December 10, 2022
Reaves eventually made two of his three free throws. And Davis made the free throw, but the Lakers star missed his second attempt, sending the game into overtime.
James Harden scored nine points in overtime. Philadelphia beat Los Angeles 13-2.
“We’re going to take the win,” 76ers coach Doc Rivers said. “Usually when you give up a lead like that, it’s rare to pull yourself together and play well in overtime…I felt like a football coach when the guy had a field goal at the end.
“I hope he misses one of the field goals. He did. We’ve reached overtime, which is an understatement. Truly. This should never happen.
In 11 starts this season, James Harden is averaging 22.5 points, 6.5 boards, 9.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He is also shooting 42% from the field and 34.2% from 3-point range.
Another record in Philadelphia was set by D’Anthony Melton. He became the first Sixer and second NBA player with 30 points, eight 3-pointers and seven steals in a game.
Melton scored a career-high 33 points off the bench.
