James Harden proved his critics wrong with a dominant performance against the Detroit Pistons, scoring 50 points in a game that showcased his vintage skills. This comes on the heels of Malik Beasley’s controversial statement regarding Harden’s guardability, where he claimed Harden was easy to guard. Beasley’s comments were quickly scrutinized as Harden delivered a near-60% shooting night and went 16-20 from the free-throw line, adding five assists and four rebounds to his impressive tally.

Despite Beasley’s earlier claim, Harden’s resilience in this matchup highlighted the stark contrast to their last encounter, where he struggled significantly. The Clippers' performance against the Pistons has also reignited discussions about Beasley’s future as he moves toward free agency.