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Harden posts 34 points, 17 assists in point guard debut

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

His Houston Rockets didn't get the win, but James Harden showed just how special he can be in Mike D'Antoni's offense Wednesday.

The 6-foot-5 guard erupted in the Rockets' opener, collecting 34 points and 17 assists in a 120-114 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Harden's stat line is one of the most impressive displays by a guard in a decade, with the 27-year-old posting just the third 34-point, 17-assist, eight-rebound performance in 32 years. Baron Davis and Magic Johnson own the other two.

Not only did Harden set a career high in assists, but he realistically could've finished with a much higher total had his teammates done a better job of knocking down open looks. The seven-year veteran seemingly found a way to break down the Lakers' defense at will, leading to a number of uncontested layups and alley-oop jams.

While it was a positive performance overall, Harden's recklessness plagued the Rockets at times, as he also collected seven turnovers and five fouls. Harden's offensive load and 37 minutes played appeared to take a toll late in the game - he tallied just six points and zero assists in the fourth quarter.

The Rockets will look to bounce back Thursday, when they take on the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center.

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