Twitter Explodes as James Harden Scores Career-High 56 Points vs. Jazz

Two days after Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James dropped 57 points in a win over the Washington Wizards, James Harden went for 56 points as the Houston Rockets beat the Utah Jazz 137-110 at Toyota Center on Sunday.

Harden shot 19-of-25 from the field, including 7-of-8 from beyond the arc. He added 13 assists to finish with a double-double.

Harden's performance caught the eye of another prolific scorer, former Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant:

ESPN Stats & Info noted the 50-point scoring game put the five-time All-Star in select company:

The 56 points are also a career high for Harden. He scored 53 in a 129-122 win over the New York Knicks on Dec. 31, 2016. He played a little over 42 minutes in that game, whereas the fact he amassed most of his numbers before the start of the third quarter Sunday caught the eye of many on Twitter:

Here's how others reacted to Harden's monster night:

Many wondered how the addition of Chris Paul would impact Harden, who finished runner-up to Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook in the NBA MVP voting last year.

Sunday's game showed Harden is still capable of catching fire on a given night and putting the Rockets offense on his back. His numbers this season aren't drastically different from 2016-17, either.

The Beard Goes for 56

According to Basketball Reference, Harden is averaging 36.6 points per 100 possessions, compared to 38.4 points a year ago. His assists have dropped slightly as well, from 14.8 to 12.8 per 100 possessions, which is to be expected with an All-Star point guard joining the team.

While Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is building an early MVP candidacy, Harden appears determined to improve upon his result in last year's MVP race.