HOUSTON: Even the biggest stars of the Houston Rockets’ past couldn’t outshine James Harden on Thursday night.

Harden scored a career-high 50 points with 10 rebounds to lead the Rockets to a 118-108 win over the Denver Nuggets on a night when the team celebrated the 20th anniversary of the franchise's back-to-back NBA titles in 1994 and 1995.

Harden got a boost by knowing players such as Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler were watching from the front row.

“That’s a special group right there,” Harden said. “We’re trying to build something special like they did (and) to play a game in front of them was definitely an honor.”

It was the ninth time a Rocket has reached 50 points and the first time since Olajuwon had 51 against the Celtics on Jan. 18, 1996.

Harden eclipsed his previous career-best of 46, set in 2013, on a free throw with about a minute remaining. On Houston's next possession, Trevor Ariza found him in the corner and he swished a 3 under heavy pressure, to make it 50.

Harden broke into a huge smile when asked about the 3-pointer that capped his big night.

Six straight points by the Nuggets cut the lead to 8 with about five minutes left when the Rockets made the next five points, capped by a step back jump shot from Harden, to make it 104-91. Harden scored seven points after that to secure the victory.

It was the 29th game with at least 30 points and seventh with 40 this season for Harden, who is second in NBA scoring. He bounced back from a tough shooting game on Tuesday, when he had 17 points, by scoring 22 before halftime on Thursday night.