NBA Christmas Day 2019: How has James Harden performed on Christmas Day?

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As the Houston Rockets prepare to take on the Golden State Warriors on Dec. 26, it will mark the eighth time, James Harden has played on NBA Christmas Day. 

Harden has enjoyed plenty of success on the regular season's marquee day, holding a 5-2 record, appearing for both the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder.

In his previous seven Chrismas Day games, Harden holds averages of 26.3 points (45.6% FG, 35.4% 3PT, 81.6% FT), 6.7 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 1.0 steals.

Take a look at some of his brightest moments on the holiday.

Memorable games

2018: Harden erupts for 41 points vs OKC

Harden's best performance on Christmas Day came 12 months ago, putting on a show against his former team.

The Beard went off for a game-high 41 points as the Rockets defeated the Thunder 113-109, with his 41-point game ranking the 24th in league history on Christmas and the second-most of any player behind Kevin Durant.

His Christmas Day performance was the seventh-straight 30-plus point game for Harden, who went on to record 32 consecutive games that season scoring 30-plus.points.

2017: Harden battles Westbrook on Xmas

With Chris Paul missing the game, Harden was locked in a back-and-forth duel with his teammate Russell Westbrook.

Harden filled it up with 29 points, 14 assists and eight rebounds, but it wasn't enough as the Rockets fell 112-107, behind a combined 75 points from OKC's Big 3 of Westbrook, Paul George and Carmelo Anthony.

2015: Harden ices the Spurs

The Rockets picked up a statement win against the high-flying San Antonio Spurs 88-84, snapping the Spurs' seven-game win streak. 

Houston leaned on their defence to stifle the Spurs, holding them to a season-low 84 points and while Harden finished with just 20 points after getting out to a slow start, he stepped up when the Rockets needed it, draining two clutch three-pointers down the stretch to ice the game. 

2013: Fourth-quarter takeover vs. Spurs

Two years earlier, Harden took down the Spurs on Christmas Day with another dominant fourth-quarter performance to lead the Houston Rockets to a 111-98 win.

Harden poured in 28 points, six assists and six rebounds in the win, showing off a series of dazzling step-back threes and dribble moves to the basket.

He scored 16 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter, including 11 consecutive at one point in the frame.

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Benyam Kidane Photo

Benyam Kidane is a senior NBA editor for The Sporting News.