DeRozan believes Harden 'could score 100' in a game
Wilt Chamberlain has held the NBA's single-game scoring record of 100 points for nearly six decades. That accomplishment has felt untouchable for a long time, and understandably so, as the highest-scoring performance since then was Kobe Bryant's 81-point game in 2006.
However, James Harden is quickly emerging as the next threat to break Chamberlain's mark following his scoring exploits this season. Some, including fellow Los Angeles native DeMar DeRozan, believe The Beard could do the unthinkable.
"I’m pretty sure if he (Harden) put his mind to it, he could score 100,” DeRozan said ahead of the San Antonio Spurs' clash against Harden's Houston Rockets on Tuesday, according to Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News.
On Saturday, Harden finished with 60-plus points for the fourth time in his career, reaching the plateau on an NBA-record low 24 shot attempts over just three quarters. The star shooting guard played only 31 minutes, too, and he scored 29 points in the third quarter.
The Spurs allow their opponents to shoot 39.1% on 3-pointers, the league's second-highest mark. Harden leads the NBA in 3-point attempts per game while hoisting 13.9 each contest, so he could be in for another big night Tuesday.
Harden is averaging an astounding 38.7 points through 19 outings, which would be the highest season-long scoring average since Michael Jordan's 37.1 in 1986-87.