James Harden 55 points vs Hornets (Nov 22, 2025)
55 PTS · 17-of-26 FG · 10-of-16 3P · 11-of-14 FT · 35:12 MIN
Usual before this game: 25.8 PTS · 17.2 FGA · 35.7 MIN, from this season's 14 games plus last season's average, counted as 3 games
Game Score 47.2 against a usual 21.4 (+25.8)
above usual
No more than 1 in 100 games by players at this level finish this far above their usual.
For a player who plays every game, a game this far above the usual comes less than once a season.
How the score worksWhy did James Harden score 55 points?
James Harden scored 55 points against the Hornets on Nov 22, 2025 in 35:12: 17-of-26 from the field (65.4%), 10-of-16 from three (62.5%), 11-of-14 on free throws (78.6%). Before this game, the usual line was 25.8 points on 17.2 shots in 35.7 minutes: this season's 14 games plus last season's average, counted as 3 games. The shot count was 26, against a usual 17.2. Harden shot 65.4% from the field, against a usual 43.5%. From threes, 30 points against a usual 10.7; from two-pointers, 14 points against a usual 7.8; from free throws, 11 points against a usual 7.3. Minutes: 35:12, against a usual 35.7; Game Score per 36 minutes: 48.3, against a usual 21.6. Harden had 2 turnovers and 1 foul, against a usual 4.0 and 1.9. The Clippers won 131-116 at the Hornets. The box score records what changed, not why: it holds no injury, matchup or coaching information.
Generated from the box score and this season's game log. How the score works
What changed
Harden in this game against the usual line
| Stat | This game | Usual (blended) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minutes | 35:12 | 35.7 | -0.5 |
| Points | 55 | 25.8 | +29.2 |
| Shots (FGA) · FG% | 26 · 65.4% | 17.2 · 43.5% | +8.8 · +21.9 |
| 3PA · 3P% | 16 · 62.5% | 9.5 · 37.8% | +6.5 · +24.7 |
| FTA · FT% | 14 · 78.6% | 8.1 · 90.7% | +5.9 · -12.1 |
| Rebounds | 3 | 6.1 | -3.1 |
| Assists | 7 | 8.7 | -1.7 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 4.0 | -2.0 |
| UsageUsual: minutes-weighted average of per-game usage, 14 games | 42.9 | 30.9 | +12.0 |
| Game Score per 36 minutes | 48.3 | 21.6 | +26.7 |
Points by shot type
Twos, threes and free throws: the changes add up to the points change
| Shot type | This game | Usual (blended) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Threes | 30 (10-of-16) | 10.7 (3.6-of-9.5) | +19.3 |
| Twos | 14 (7-of-10) | 7.8 (3.9-of-7.7) | +6.2 |
| Free throws | 11 (11-of-14) | 7.3 (7.3-of-8.1) | +3.7 |
| Total | 55 | 25.8 | +29.2 |
Game Score
One measure of the whole box score line
47.2 against a usual 21.4 (+25.8)
Its five parts
| Part | Change |
|---|---|
| Scoring, net of shot attempts | +25.9 |
| Rebounds | -0.8 |
| Assists | -1.2 |
| Steals and blocks | -0.5 |
| Turnovers and fouls | +2.4 |
| Total | +25.8 |
Season so far
Regular season, in date order
No rank yet: too few earlier games this season.
Context
From the rows this page already reads
- The Clippers won 131-116 at the Hornets.
- Previous appearance: Nov 20, 2025, 2 days earlier.
- No earlier regular-season meetings with the Hornets this season.
What this page cannot tell you
The same on every performance page
Box scores record what happened, not why: no injuries or health, defensive assignments, matchups, coaching decisions or play-by-play.
Game Score against the player's own usual line. How rare a gap is comes from NBA regular-season games of 2023-24 and 2024-25, checked on 2025-26.