James Harden cannot be stopped

Houston Rockets guard James Harden closed out 2018 in high style last night, going for a triple-double (43 points, 10 rebounds, 13 assists) against the Memphis Grizzlies in a 113-101 win. But what would have been a career night for most players has recently become routine for Harden, the NBA's reigning MVP, who has scored more than 400 points over his last 10 games — joining Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant as the only players in the past 30 years to accomplish the feat, ESPN reports. He has scored 40 or more in four straight games — something that has never been done in Rockets history — has hit five or more three-pointers in seven straight, and in the past three weeks has almost single-handedly lifted his team from 14th place in the Western Conference to fourth.

Teammate Austin Rivers told ESPN that "[Harden is] doing it so effortlessly... it's crazy. He's just different, man... Nobody in the league can do what he's doing right now. He's winning back-to-back MVPs. It's incredible." Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni added, "I don't know how you get any better than what he's playing... he comes up with steals, triple-doubles like it's nothing. So, yeah, he's playing at a different level." Not yet discussed is whether Harden might also be capable of ending the government shutdown — but at this point, anything seems possible.

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