NBA: Harden pours in 45 points to lead Rockets past Pacers

James Harden of Houston Rockets. AP FILE PHOTO

HOUSTON, United States – James Harden bounced back in a big way on Monday, scoring 45 points to lead the Houston Rockets to a 110-98 NBA victory over the Indiana Pacers.

Harden was one point shy of his career high set on February 20, 2013 against Oklahoma City.

Harden, the league’s leading scorer with an average of 27.1 points per game, notched his 18th outing of the season of 30 or more points and his fourth of 40 or more.

Thirty-three of his 45 came in the second half as he rebounded from a disappointing 12-point outing as he battled foul trouble in Houston’s 131-106 loss to Golden State on Saturday.

“It’s going to be like that,” Harden said. “There are going to be some games where I’m not making shots or I’m just frustrated.

“Last game, having three fouls in the first quarter, that was the first time I really went through that all season … kind of frustrating, but it was very important to bounce back and we did a great job of that tonight.”

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