Harden drops 40, breaks turnover record in win over Lakers

James Harden's up-and-down season was personified Sunday night, as even a 40-point performance wasn't enough to overshadow a record he'd likely prefer not to own.

Harden broke the NBA record for most turnovers in a season, passing Artis Gilmore's mark (366) that stood for almost 40 years.

With 370 turnovers on the year, Harden is still 52 away from breaking George McGinnis' ABA single-season mark - a record that will likely stay with McGinnis for the time being.

Despite being one of the game's elite scorers, Harden has often found himself immersed in criticism this year, with his lethargic defense and the Houston Rockets' lackluster season driving the negative voices.

Records aside, Harden's offensive output was enough to keep the Rockets' season very much alive, dropping 40 points and 13 assists in a 130-110 win.

The 26-year-old was particularly dominant in the fourth, dropping 20 in the final frame as the Rockets cruised to victory.

Harden has elevated his performance of late with the season on the line, averaging 34.5 points, 8.3 assists, and 2.5 steals in the month of April. However, unless Houston makes the playoffs, he will likely continue to hear criticism for his play.

With just two games left on the schedule, Houston will need to win out and hope for multiple losses from either the Utah Jazz or Dallas Mavericks in order to reach the playoffs.