James Harden puts rest of NBA on notice with electric start to season

Alec Brzezinski

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James Harden puts rest of NBA on notice with electric start to season image

James Harden is a mere mortal last we checked, but it's hard to be sure based off his otherworldly performances to start this season.

The bearded guard scored 32 points with 15 assists and six rebounds in the Rockets' thrilling 114-106 victory over the Wizards on Monday. Harden has now recorded at least 30 points and 10 assists in four straight games this season, becoming the first NBA player to do so since Michael Jordan during the 1988-89 season.

MORE: Harden still reigns supreme as NBA's top shooting guard

Harden, who was criticized heavily last season for poor defensive play, has five double-doubles in seven games. He has recorded at least 26 points, seven assists and six rebounds in every game.

Ryan Anderson had his best game in a Rockets jersey — after signing a lucrative deal this offseason — by pouring in 23 points with seven rebounds and two assists. He also went 5 of 8 from 3-point range.

Washington had a chance to edge back into the game when they cut Houston's lead to five points with 33 seconds left on the clock, but John Wall picked up his second technical foul of the game, resulting in an ejection.

Harden scored the game's final three points — all from the free throw line — to ice the game.

MORE: Harden, Mike D'Antoni and the Rockets are trying on defense (seriously)

Stud of the night:

The Hornets put together one of the most balanced box scores we've seen in a while. Eight players scored in double figures with Kemba Walker (24 points, 10 assists) and Spencer Hawes (13 points, 13 rebounds) leading the way with double-doubles.

Cody Zeller (13), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (13), Marvin Williams (12), Marco Belinelli (12), Frank Kaminsky (11) and Ramon Sessions (10) also got in on the balanced scoring action. Just for good measure, Nicolas Batum added nine points.

Dud of the night:

There isn't a lot to be excited about on the Heat roster these days, as point guard Goran Dragic pointed out before the season started, but he didn't do anything to help his team in Monday's 97-85 loss to the Thunder.

Dragic scored just 11 points on 5-of-12 shooting with four assists and two turnovers. Despite the underwhelming performance, Dragic has been the Heat's most consistent player this season. Expect a bounceback, soon.

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Highlight:

When Stephen Curry is playing, there are no bad shots:

He finished Golden State's 116-106 win with 46 points while breaking the single-game NBA record with 13 3-pointers, a mark he tied last season. He shot 13 of 17 from beyond the arc, and it's the seventh time he's recorded double-digit 3-pointers in a game throughout his career.

MORE: LeBron wants to remind you he's "not a scorer"

What's next:

Hawks (4-2) at Cavaliers (6-0), 7 p.m. ET — Dwight Howard looks like a man reborn in Atlanta, and combined with Paul Millsap, the Hawks could have an advantage in the paint against Cleveland. LeBron James in now top 10 on the NBA's all-time scoring list, but he has plenty of help these days.

Alec Brzezinski