Harden drops career-high 23 in perfect 1st quarter vs. Sixers

James Harden is in the midst of a historic statistical season, and while some may be waiting for him to come back down to earth, the Houston Rockets guard keeps one-upping himself.

To wit: His opening frame Monday against the Philadelphia 76ers may have been the finest quarter of basketball he's ever submitted. For 12 jaw-dropping minutes, Harden couldn't miss, jab-stepping, Euro-stepping, and step-back jump-shooting his way to 23 points - the most he's ever scored in any quarter, and the most in a quarter for a Rockets player since Yao Ming in December 2006.

Harden was as efficient as he was prolific, shooting 8-of-8 from the field, 2-of-2 from 3-point range, and 5-of-5 from the free-throw line.

Alas, Harden couldn't sustain his spotless play in the next frame. Sitting for the first four minutes cooled him off, and he returned to shoot 0-for-5 from the field in a scoreless second quarter.

Harden bounced back in the third, however, to help the Rockets put the game out of reach, finishing with 33 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists in a 115-88 win.