Harden was blunt about what he can do after overtime win without Kawhi Leonard.
The Los Angeles Clippers have fully turned their season around, and James Harden is making sure everyone knows he is still playing at the highest level.
After leading the Clippers to a 121-117 overtime win over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night, the 36-year-old guard made his confidence clear when asked about his performance in his 17th NBA season.
"This is what I do," Harden said.
Harden Carries the Load Without Kawhi
The statement came after Harden delivered one of his best performances of the season, finishing with 31 points and 10 assists while playing 42 minutes on the road.
The victory was even more impressive considering the Clippers were without star forward Kawhi Leonard, who sat out with a sprained right ankle and missed the team's only regular-season trip to Toronto this year.
Harden struggled from three-point range by going just 2-for-15 from beyond the arc, but he made up for it by getting to the free-throw line and converting 9 of 10 attempts.
When the game mattered most, the former MVP took over completely by scoring eight straight points to force overtime after the Clippers trailed 109-101 with just 3:35 remaining in the fourth quarter, and then he opened the extra period with four consecutive free throws to put Los Angeles in control.
The Clippers Turnaround Continues
The win pushed the Clippers to 18-23 on the season and extended their winning streak to five games, which is remarkable considering the team started the year with a brutal 6-21 record.
Los Angeles has now won 12 of their last 14 games, climbing back into playoff contention in the Western Conference and sitting in 10th place.
Harden has been the engine driving this turnaround, and his season averages of 25.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game show he has not lost a step despite being one of the oldest players at his position.
Earlier this week, he passed Shaquille O'Neal to become the ninth-leading scorer in NBA history, and his consistency has allowed him to mentor the young players who have stepped up during this run.
Young Core Steps Up Alongside Harden
Against the Raptors (25-18), Harden received plenty of help from the Clippers' young reserves, who have become key contributors during the team's hot stretch.
Jordan Miller finished with 19 points and six assists, while Ivica Zubac returned from his own ankle injury to record a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds that helped the team battle back from a 14-point deficit in the first half.
Cam Christie added 16 points, Kris Dunn contributed 15 points and four steals, and Kobe Sanders chipped in 13 points off the bench as six players scored in double figures for Los Angeles.
The depth has been crucial with Bradley Beal out for the season following hip surgery and several other rotation players dealing with injuries throughout the year.
Looking Ahead
Harden has shown throughout this season that he can still be a primary offensive threat while leading a team through difficult stretches, and his leadership during the recent turnaround has put the Clippers in position to make a playoff push.
The question of whether he deserves an All-Star spot is becoming harder to ignore, especially with the game being held at the Intuit Dome next month.
The Clippers continue their road trip on Monday when they visit the Washington Wizards.