James Harden, Sixers give their thoughts on NBA’s huge scoring nights

PHILADELPHIA–There have been a ton of high-scoring nights throughout the NBA to begin the season. It seems that every night, a player is setting some type of career-high in points or 3-pointers made or something of that nature.

Recently, Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell scored a career-high and a franchise-record 71 points. He did so efficiently on 22-for-34 shooting as he destroyed any type of defense that was thrown at him.

On Dec. 30, New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum drilled a career-high and Pelicans franchise record 11 triples. There have just been so many huge games throughout the league to begin the season.

“Better talent,” said James Harden who is no stranger to huge scoring nights. “It’s pretty simple. Guys are just getting better, man. You love to see it. It makes the game more exciting. The fans are definitely excited about it. This is what we get paid for so it’s definitely a great thing to see. I don’t know if it’s bad defense or great playing, but guys are just getting better.”

Sometimes, it’s just based on the hard work these guys put into their craft over the offseason.

“Guys are getting really good at basketball,” added Tyrese Maxey. “Everybody’s really good. Everybody’s putting in work in the summer, guys are working on their game, guys are working on their weaknesses, and guys are coming back with stronger games, and they want to prove that to the world. They go out there and try to help their team every single night, and, at the end of the day, guys are competitive.”

Just referring back to Mitchell’s huge performance, he did so against the Chicago Bulls. Ever since that loss, the Bulls have now won two in a row over the red-hot Brooklyn Nets and then they knocked off the Sixers on Friday.

There is just a lot of talent in the NBA at the moment.

“Donovan Mitchell just had, I don’t know how many he had against them, and they just won two in a row as of now,” Maxey continued. “Guys are competitive. They want to win every single night and they’re gonna go out there and compete and they’re gonna go out there and try to do whatever it takes for their team to win games.”