James Harden Reaches Milestone; Spurs vs. Thunder Preview

Emerson Raymont

ago 2 hours

James Harden achieved a significant milestone by surpassing Shaquille O’Neal on the all-time scoring list, moving to 9th place. He accomplished this feat by scoring 15 points in a game against the Charlotte Hornets, eventually finishing with 32 points, 10 assists, and 4 steals. This achievement reflects Harden’s impressive performance as he continues his 17th NBA season, contributing an average of 25.6 points per game, the highest since the 2019-20 season.

Spurs vs. Thunder Preview

Tonight’s NBA matchup features the San Antonio Spurs facing the Oklahoma City Thunder, the top two teams in the Western Conference. This game, airing at 8 ET on NBC, marks the fourth meeting between these rivals this season. The Thunder currently lead the Western Conference but have struggled against the Spurs, losing all three previous matchups.

Recent Performances

The Thunder hold a 5.5-game lead over the Spurs.
Oklahoma City is riding a three-game winning streak.
San Antonio defeated OKC three times this season, including a surprising 20-point victory on December 23.
Victor Wembanyama has been a standout for the Spurs, averaging 17.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.

The rivalry between these teams has intensified, with the Spurs defeating the Thunder on Christmas Day by a 15-point margin. Oklahoma City’s defense holds the league’s best rating, yet they have struggled against San Antonio, who manages to limit their scoring to just over 107 points per game.

The Rising Suns

In addition to the Spurs-Thunder clash, attention turns to the Phoenix Suns, who have climbed to fifth place in the league standings. They have won nine of their last eleven games, including major victories over the Lakers and the Thunder.

The Suns boast the best defensive rating over their recent 9-2 run.
Phoenix’s lineup has outscored opponents by an average of 9.1 points per game.

As the season progresses, both the Spurs and Suns are teams to watch, with significant implications for playoff positioning in the Western Conference.

Historic Context

Harden’s scoring achievements this season place him among the elite in NBA history. He is the only player in the top ten to have less than 10,000 career field goals, with a significant number of his points coming from three-pointers. This remarkable feat has led to comparisons with NBA legends, showcasing his consistency and skill over the years.

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