USA TODAY International Edition
MVP: Harden posting unheard of milestones
USA TODAY Sports’ top five candidates for the NBA MVP Award ( Week 13, from Jan. 22 through Jan. 28; records and stats reflected through Saturday).
Also receiving votes: Washington Wizards’ John Wall, Boston Celtics’ Isaiah Thomas
5. Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs: Leonard, who missed two of San Antonio’s three games last week because of a hand injury, struggled from the field in his first game back Friday, making just six of his 16 shot attempts ( for 23 points) in a loss to the Pelicans, putting an end to his streak of six games with 30 or more points. On the season, the two- way superstar is averaging a career- high 25.4 points to go along with 5.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists — also a career best. His offensive rating of 114.5 ( points scored per 100 possessions) is fifth in the NBA among players who average 30 or more minutes per game.
4. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers: The headlines of James’ week centered around his decision to publicly criticize the Cavaliers roster, saying the team isn’t better than last year “from a personnel standpoint” and they need to improve “if ” they want to repeat as champions. But that’s not to say he wasn’t elite on the court. Though the Cavs have hit a bid of a midseason road block, dropping six of their last 10 games, James hasn’t lost a step. The four- time MVP put together back- to- back triple- doubles last week — 26 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds in the loss Jan. 23 to the Pelicans and 24 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists in Wednes- day’s loss to the Kings. He followed those performances with a 31- point ( 13- for- 18 shooting), 11- assist, five- rebound outing in a win over the Nets on Friday. against the Hornets. His offensive rating of 116.2 is the highest of his 10- year career.
2. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder: Westbrook, who has six triple- doubles in his last eight games, led the Thunder to three consecutive wins last week. He put up 38 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and four steals against the Jazz on Jan. 23, 27 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists against the Pelicans on Wednesday and 45 points, eight rebounds and three assists against the Mavericks on Thursday. He also shot 11- for- 24 ( 45.8%) from beyond the arc on the week. On the season, the Oklahoma City superstar is averaging 31 points, 10.6 rebounds and 10.2 assists — still on pace to become just the second player in NBA history to average a tripledouble throughout an entire season.
1. James Harden, Houston Rockets: Harden added another chapter to his storybook season, pouring in 51 points ( on 57.1% shooting) to go with 13 rebounds and 13 assists in a 123- 118 win against the 76ers on Friday. He became the first player in NBA history to post multiple 50- point triple- doubles in a season. It was his 14th triple- double of 2016- 17 and pushed his averages to 29.1 points ( tied for second in NBA), 11.6 assists ( first) and 8.2 rebounds ( third among guards). “He played about as good as you can play,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said after Harden’s performance. “I’ve been around a lot of players, but it doesn’t get much better than that. I’ve never seen better than that.”