USA - Harden celebrates call-up with another outstanding effort

DALLAS (NBA/Olympics) - James Harden has quickly showed why USA Basketball added him to the list of finalists for the national team to play at the Olympics.

The 22-year-old guard put forth a dominating display for the Oklahoma City Thunder to end the title defense of the Dallas Mavericks at the weekend.

The 1.96m Harden poured in 15 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter as the Thunder beat the Mavs 103-97 on Saturday night to complete a 4-0 sweep in the first round of the play-offs.

He scored on drives to the basket with dunks, floaters and lay-ups, and also drilled three of four shots from long range.

Harden finished six of nine in the last frame of Game 4 and 11 of 16 overall.

"His pick-and-roll game is unreal. It's fun to watch and fun to be a part of,” said Harden’s Oklahoma City teammate Kevin Durant, the Americans’ 2010 FIBA World Championship MVP.

Harden’s coach, Scott Brooks, also heaped praise on his player who averaged 18.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.5 steals per game in the series against Dallas.

"James had an incredible game,” Brooks said.

“We ran pick and rolls at the angles.

“He was making plays for himself or our shooters."

Harden is a leading contender for the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award.

FIBA