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Harden believes Nets' Big Three can 'be that good' after blowout of Bulls

Jeff Haynes / National Basketball Association / Getty

James Harden believes the sky is the limit when the Brooklyn Nets have their Big Three intact.

"We got a chance to be that good," Harden told reporters Wednesday after the Nets' 26-point romp over the East-leading Chicago Bulls, according to ESPN's Nick Friedell. "We just haven't had enough of it. I think last year, we probably had 15 games maybe together, a little more, a little less. And this year only two.

"We haven't had a real bulk of a season - y'all can consistently see how great we can be. And we're working on that. We need to get to that point."

Wednesday's prime-time matchup was only the second time this season that Harden, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving shared the floor. The trio combined for 61 points, 28 assists, and 13 boards as the Nets improved to 13-3 when they have all three stars in the lineup, per StatMuse.

The Big Three played just eight games together during the 2020-21 campaign. In those 202 minutes, Brooklyn posted an elite offensive rating of 119.6 points per 100 possessions in lineups featuring Harden, Durant, and Irving.

Harden is confident their chemistry will continue to grow with more playing time.

"Since I've been here, it's been crazy, a lot of ups and downs, honestly," Harden said. "From last year coming into this year, we haven't had any consistency for any reason, but ... we're not far at all. We're all killers.

"We attack. But we're all unselfish. We like to just make the right play. So, it won't take long at all. We just got to be out there on the court and be out there doing it."

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