{"id":410355,"date":"2026-01-13T16:25:16","date_gmt":"2026-01-13T16:25:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/410355\/"},"modified":"2026-01-13T16:25:16","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T16:25:16","slug":"starting-5-a-milestone-for-james-harden-looking-ahead-to-spurs-thunder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/410355\/","title":{"rendered":"Starting 5: A milestone for James Harden; Looking ahead to Spurs-Thunder"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

No. 9 All-Time.<\/p>\n

James Harden needed 15 points on Monday to pass Shaq for 9th on the all-time scoring list.<\/p>\n

He did it with this triple \u2013 and he was just getting started.<\/p>\n

Keep reading to go inside the Beard\u2019s big night, get what to know before the West\u2019s top two teams meet on NBC & Peacock (8 ET), meet the (fast) rising Suns & more.<\/p>\n

\"James<\/p>\n

5 STORIES IN TODAY\u2019S EDITION \ud83c\udfc0<\/p>\n

Rivalry Round 4: The top 2 teams out West meet again as OKC hosts San Antonio tonight<\/p>\n

Power Rankings Spotlight: Inside the Suns\u2019 big jump in Schuhmann\u2019s latest rankings<\/p>\n

Defying Father Time: Three ageless legends take the floor tonight in LeBron, Steph and KD<\/p>\n

Monday\u2019s Best: Harden pops off to pass Shaq, Siakam calls game, Coop catches fire<\/p>\n

Roundup: Kings spoil Luka\u2019s masterclass, Maxey & Embiid take over, Keyonte cooks<\/p>\n

BUT FIRST \u2026 \u23f0<\/p>\n

\"Scores<\/p>\n

Seven games tip off tonight, highlighted by a top-2 West showdown as the 2nd-place Spurs visit the 1st-place Thunder on NBC\u2019s Coast 2 Coast Tuesday (8 ET<\/a> | Tap to Watch<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The doubleheader closes in San Francisco as the Warriors host the Blazers (8 PT<\/a> | Tap to Watch<\/a>).<\/p>\n

All-Star Clock\u2019s Ticking: Only two days remain to vote for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game starters. Submit your daily ballot through Wednesday using your NBA ID. Don\u2019t miss your shot, vote now<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Europe Games Await: On Thursday, the Grizzlies and Magic square off in the NBA Berlin Game 2026<\/a> (2 ET, Prime) before meeting again on Sunday in the NBA London Game 2026 (Noon ET, Prime).<\/p>\n

1. TONIGHT ON NBC: SPURS-THUNDER, RIVALRY ROUND 4<\/p>\n

\"Victor<\/p>\n

The NBA-best Thunder have played 19 teams this season. They\u2019re a combined 33-4 against 18 of those squads.<\/p>\n

Against the Spurs, they\u2019re 0-3.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t lose to a team three times in a row in a short span without them being better than you,\u201d said Shai Gilgeous-Alexander after OKC\u2019s most recent loss to San Antonio on Christmas
\n\u201cWe have to get better. We have to look in the mirror \u2013 and that\u2019s everybody, top to bottom \u2013 if we want to reach our ultimate goal.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Thunder reached that goal just six months ago, becoming the youngest team to win an NBA title in nearly 50 years. That momentum carried into a 24-1 start \u2013 tied for the best 25-game open in league history \u2013 capped by a franchise-best 16 straight wins.<\/p>\n

Then came the Spurs.<\/p>\n

Opening Statement: On Dec. 13, in the Emirates NBA Cup Semifinals, San Antonio handed OKC its second loss of the season, stunning the league\u2019s top squad behind Victor Wembanyama\u2019s scintillating return<\/a> from a calf injury
\nDoubling Down: On Dec. 23, the Spurs extend their win streak to seven games by beating OKC again \u2013 this time by 20, the Thunder\u2019s largest loss of the season
\nXmas Exclamation: Two days later, on Christmas Day, San Antonio did it again, knocking off OKC by 15 on its home floor (where the Thunder hadn\u2019t lost all season)<\/p>\n

\"Stephon<\/p>\n

The wins didn\u2019t just amplify the Spurs\u2019 arrival \u2014 they intensified a rivalry between a blossoming contender and a certified champion.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a rivalry between the West\u2019s top two teams \u2014 and one where the Spurs have held the edge, beating OKC at its own game.<\/p>\n

Lightning Bottled: While OKC owns the league\u2019s top DefRtg, it\u2019s been San Antonio\u2019s defense that\u2019s owned the rivalry, holding the Thunder\u2019s top-2 offense to just 107 ppg \u2013 14.4 below their season average
\nThe Anchor? Wemby. Dominant on both ends in limited minutes (17.7 pts, 8.3 reb, 1 blk), he owns the best plus\/minus of any player in the season series by 5+ points (+15.7)
\nSpurs Speed: In the backcourt, De\u2019Aaron Fox (19 pts, 5.3 ast) and Stephon Castle (21.7 pts, 4 ast) have cracked OKC\u2019s perimeter pressure, combining for 40.7 points and 9.3 assists per game
\nThe Result: Of the teams to play OKC twice this season, the Spurs rank first in ppg (119.3), while allowing the fewest (107), making for a +12.3 average margin of victory<\/p>\n

But the Thunder still hold a 5.5-game lead over the Spurs atop the West and are back rolling, winners of three straight.<\/p>\n

Tonight (8:30 ET, NBC), they\u2019ll look to make it four against the one team that\u2019s consistently cracked their code. A newfound rival that\u2019s challenged the champs like no other.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re a good team who\u2019s gotten the better of us recently,\u201d said SGA of the Spurs on Sunday. \u201cShould be a fun one. Should be competitive. Got to go out there and do the necessary things to win\u2026
\n\u201cIf we don\u2019t, we\u2019ll most likely lose.\u201d<\/p>\n

2. POWER RANKINGS SPOTLIGHT: SCHUHMANN ON THE RISING SUNS<\/p>\n

\"Devin<\/p>\n

Every Monday, John Schuhmann\u2019s Power Rankings<\/a> offer an overarching view of the NBA landscape, tracking which teams are climbing, sliding and settling in.<\/p>\n

Today, we\u2019re shining the spotlight on one notable riser: the Phoenix Suns. They are up three spots to No. 5 thanks to nine wins in their last 11 games, including victories over the Lakers, Thunder and Knicks.<\/p>\n

Below are three takeaways from Schuhmann on what\u2019s driving Phoenix\u2019s surge:<\/p>\n

The Suns have had the league\u2019s No. 1 defense (107.3 points allowed per 100 possessions) over the 9-2 stretch, climbing from 12th to fifth for the season as a whole.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2026 [Phoenix\u2019s] current starting lineup has outscored opponents by 9.1 points per 100 possessions and allowed just 106.8 per 100, the third-best defensive mark among 15 lineups that have played at least 150 minutes.<\/p>\n

\u2026 The Suns have seen a big jump in transition points and a big drop in opponent transition points from last season. They\u2019ve outscored their opponents on fast breaks in 13 of their last 15 games, with a margin of 57 points (108-51) over their first six games of 2026. | Read More<\/a><\/p>\n

The West\u2019s No. 6 seed, Phoenix looks to stay rolling tonight as it visits Miami (7:30 ET, League Pass).<\/p>\n

3. NBA OG\u2019S HEADLINE MORE TUESDAY MATCHUPS<\/p>\n

\"LeBron<\/p>\n

This week on NBA.com, Jerry Jiang took a closer look at four NBA legends who continue to push back against Father Time.<\/p>\n

LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry and James Harden are all producing at a level rarely seen this deep into a career \u2014 and three of them take the floor tonight.<\/p>\n

Blazers at Warriors (8 ET, NBC): Averaging 28.8 ppg, Curry leads the Warriors against the surging Blazers to cap NBC\u2019s Coast 2 Coast Tuesday
\nBulls at Rockets (8 ET, LP): At the same time, Durant \u2013 posting 25+ ppg on over 50% shooting for a 14th straight season \u2013 guides Houston against Chicago
\nHawks at Lakers (10:30 ET, LP): To wrap the night, LeBron (22 ppg, 6.8 apg) looks to stay hot in Year 23 as the Lakers host the Hawks<\/p>\n

Jiang breaks down the historic context behind their production:<\/p>\n

There\u2019s an adage that says Father Time remains undefeated, but these NBA veterans may say otherwise.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Only seven players in NBA history have averaged 20 or more points per game in their 17th season or later. Four of them are doing so this season.<\/p>\n

Below is the full list (* indicates this season): <\/p>\n

LeBron James (seven times)*
\nKevin Durant (twice)*
\nJames Harden (once)*
\nStephen Curry (once)*
\nKobe Bryant (once)
\nKarl Malone (once)
\nKareem Abdul-Jabbar<\/p>\n

\u2026 Durant, James and Harden continue to prove that age is but a number while Curry is having another historic season himself.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Haven\u2019t seen NBA OGs,\u00a0last\u00a0year\u2019s wide-ranging conversation between three legends: James, Curry and Durant?\u00a0Tap here<\/a><\/p>\n

4.\u00a0MONDAY\u2019S BEST: HARDEN PASSES SHAQ, SIAKAM WINS IT, FLAGG SHINES<\/p>\n

\"James<\/p>\n

The most recent \u201cmoment\u201d from the four legends? This one \u2b06\ufe0f<\/p>\n

Clippers 117, Hornets 109: With 9:12 left in the 3rd quarter, James Harden nailed a 3-pointer to pass Shaquille O\u2019Neal<\/a> (28,596) for 9th on the all-time scoring list. The Beard wasn\u2019t done, finishing with 32 points, 10 dimes and 4 steals to power LA past Charlotte. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

On The Rise: Harden\u2019s jump comes just 38 days after passing Carmelo Anthony (28,289) for 10th on the all-time scoring list, as the Beard\u2019s still getting vintage buckets in Year 17, averaging 25.6 ppg
\nAging Gracefully: That\u2019s his highest scoring average since 2019-20, when he paced the league with a scalding-hot 34.3 ppg<\/p>\n

\"James<\/p>\n

Even more mind-blowing? Harden is the only top-10 scorer with fewer than 10,000 career made field goals. In fact, he has just 8,442, with nearly 10,000 of his points coming from deep \u2013 where he\u2019s cleared 36% in 11 different seasons.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s led to a scoring arc defined by consistency.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt says a lot about James, and who he is as a player,\u201d said Clippers coach Ty Lue. \u201cA true testament to his work \u2026 if you pass greats like Shaq, you\u2019ve really done something.\u201d
\n1-2 Punch: Kawhi Leonard added a game-high 35 points, as he and Harden led LA to its third straight win, improving to an NBA-best 10-2 in its last 12 games<\/p>\n

\"Pascal<\/p>\n

Resiliency may be in the Pacers\u2019 DNA.<\/p>\n

After a 16-18 start last season, Indy went 34-14 after the New Year, authoring a storybook run to the Finals.<\/p>\n

This season looks different. But another calendar flip has sparked something familiar in Indiana. Something that\u2019s never left \u2013 persistence.<\/p>\n

Pacers 98, Celtics 96: Ten different Pacers scored, led by Pascal Siakam (21 pts, 8 reb, 6 ast), who buried the night\u2019s most important bucket: a go-ahead floater with 6 seconds left<\/a> to knock off the surging Celtics, stamping Indy\u2019s third straight win. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

C\u2019s Slowed: The Celtics entered Monday with nine wins in their last 12 games. They exited with their first back-to-back loss since Dec. 15
\nThe Key? A relentless defensive effort from Indy, holding Boston one point shy of its season-low in scoring, including just 40 in the 2nd half
\nThe Closer? Siakam, who has been a bright spot for the Pacers all season, playing in 39 of their 40 games while leading the team in points (23.5), rebounds (6.8) and steals (1.3)
\n\u201cIt\u2019s so fitting that Pascal has the ball on our last possession and hits the game-winning shot,\u201d said Rick Carlisle postgame. \u201cHis level of discipline, patience and everything \u2026 it\u2019s really, really big-time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Cooper<\/p>\n

While the Pacers\u2019 vet said goodnight, the Mavs\u2019 rook said hello.<\/p>\n

Mavericks 113, Nets 105: Cooper Flagg dazzled on both ends, racking up 27 points, 5 boards, 5 assists, 3 steals and 1 block to power Dallas past Michael Porter Jr. (28 pts, 9 reb, 6 3s) and Brooklyn, halting the Mavs\u2019 two-game slide. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Flying Flagg: Flagg leads Dallas in scoring since Dec. 1, averaging 21.7 points along with 6.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.3 steals and 1 block \u2013 numbers no other NBA player has matched in that span
\n\u201cHe\u2019s never gonna be afraid,\u201d said Mavs coach Jason Kidd on Flagg postgame. \u201cHe\u2019s built differently.\u201d<\/p>\n

5. ROUNDUP: KINGS SPOIL LUKA MAGIC, SIXERS STAY HOT, JAZZ DUB<\/p>\n

\"Malik<\/p>\n

In another offensive masterclass, Luka Don\u010di\u0107 shined bright \u2013 but the beam shined brighter.<\/p>\n

Kings 124, Lakers 112: In his NBA-leading seventh 40-piece this season, Luka put on a show (42 pts, 7 reb, 8 ast), going 16-of-25 from the field and dropping 26 in the 1st half to keep the Lakers in it.<\/p>\n

But it wasn\u2019t enough to overcome a complete Kings effort, as DeMar DeRozan (32 pts, 6 ast) and Malik Monk (26 pts, 8 ast, 7 3s) sparked Sacramento\u2019s offensive eruption as it secured back-to-back wins after beating Houston on Sunday. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Can\u2019t-Miss Kings: Russell Westbrook (22 pts, 5 reb, 7 ast, 4 3s) and Zach LaVine (19 pts, 3 3s) combined for 41 more points as Sacramento went 17-of-26 from downtown (65%)
\nLuka Joins Elgin: Despite the loss, Don\u010di\u0107 hit 1,000 points on the season in just his 30th game \u2013 a feat matched by only one other Laker: Elgin Baylor<\/p>\n

\"Tyrese<\/p>\n

The Sixers just keep winning, and Tyrese Maxey just keeps cooking \u2013 with another star starting to feast.<\/p>\n

76ers 115, Raptors 102: Maxey went 6-of-9 from deep en route to 33 points, while Joel Embiid added 27 more, including one big-time hammer<\/a> as the Sixers topped the Raptors to avenge Sunday\u2019s last-second loss in Toronto. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Star Surge: Philly is now 6-2 in its last eight games, with Maxey (31.8) and Embiid (27.3) combining for 59.1 ppg in that span
\nLowry Love: In what may have been his final game in Toronto, Kyle Lowry \u2013 who spent nine seasons and won the 2019 NBA title with the Raptors \u2013 received a standing ovation<\/a> when he checked in late
\n\ud83d\udde3\ufe0f Lowry: \u201c[That] was one of the greatest basketball moments of my personal career.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jazz 123, Cavaliers 112: Keyonte George went off for 32 points and 9 dimes, Lauri Markkanen added a double-double (28 pts, 12 reb) and the Jazz outscored Cleveland 69-50 in the 2nd half for a big road win. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Year 3 Leap: George is averaging career-highs across the board (23.8 pts, 4.2 reb, 6.9 ast) and now has 10 30-pieces in 2025-26 after six in his first two seasons combined<\/p>\n