James Harden Drops Classic 3-Word Quote Following 55-Pt Masterclass vs Hornets as Clippers Star Sets Franchise Record

James Harden rolled back time at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte as he dropped 55 points against the Hornets to secure a 131-116 win for his team on Saturday. "The Beard" was a cold-blooded assassin on the court, shooting 17 of 26 from the field and 10 of 16 from deep.

The Clippers were in dire need of a win as they were on a three-game losing streak heading into the matchup. Harden's performance was brilliant, but his postgame interview stole the show.

The Hornets' courtside reporter asked "the beard" to describe his lifestyle off the court that help him deliver such performances. Harden's eyes widened as he heard the question, and he dropped a classic three-word quote in his answer.

"Basketball is life," he said.

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After answering the question, the Clippers star slowly walked away from the interview while giving the side eye to the camera. James Harden has been the Clippers' savior since the start of the season. The beard has not scored less than 23 points in his last seven games and is carrying his team on his back in the absence of his teammates.

Bradley Beal has been ruled out for the rest of the season after he suffered a left-hip injury that needed surgery. Kawhi Leonard, on the other hand, has been sidelined with an ankle injury and has played only six games this season.

The Clippers have had an abysmal start to their season. They are 5-11 and are in 12th place in the Western Conference standings. However, James Harden has embraced the difficult times and is trying his best to keep in the playoff race. He is averaging 26.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 8.6 assists per game on 44.0% shooting.

James Harden broke multiple records with his 55-point masterclass

James Harden's 55 point explosion against the Hornets broke multiple franchise records and equalled the Clippers star with Kobe Bryant. It was the 25th 50-point game for Harden in his 17-year-long career. After Saturday's performance, the beard tied Kobe Bryant for having the third-most 50-point games in NBA history.

He also surpassed former Clippers Bob McAdoo and Charles Smith as the Clippers player to score the most points in a single game. According to ESPN, Smith and McAdoo were tied for the record with 52 points.

Harden's 55-point showing was his 11th-highest scoring game of his career. He also tied the record for the highest scoring game this season with Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the two frontrunners in the MVP race.

Edited by Avi Shravan