NBA: Russell Westbrook, James Harden Break Basketball Records

NBA: Russell Westbrook, James Harden Break Basketball Records
LA Clippers' Russell Westbrook and Philadelphia 76ers' James Harden made NBA history in their weekend games. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

NBA superstars and former teammates Russell Westbrook and James Harden made basketball history in their respective weekend games.

The Los Angeles Clippers and the New York Knicks squared off on a Saturday afternoon in California.

Clippers superstar forward Kawhi Leonard scored 38 points to lead the Clippers to a 106-95 victory in a game he only played 37 minutes.

Russell Westbrook achieved NBA history by passing Hall of Famer and former Detroit Pistons point guard Isiah Thomas on the list of all-time assists during the contest.

The 2017 MVP entered the day with 9,058 assists, just three short of Thomas (9,061), per Fan Nation.

In 23 minutes of action against the Knicks, he finished with seven points, five boards, three assists, and a steal.

Russell Westbrook has previously played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Wizards, Houston Rockets, and Oklahoma City Thunder in addition to the Clippers, making them his fifth NBA franchise overall.

While Westbrook has yet to win an NBA title, he did get to the 2012 NBA Finals and has appeared in an NBA-record 111 postseason games.

Westbrook Feels 'Great' About Latest Achievement

In the third quarter of the Los Angeles Clippers vs. New York Knicks game on Saturday afternoon, Russell Westbrook made his third assist of the game and the 9,062nd of his career, moving him over Isiah Thomas into ninth place on the NBA all-time assists record.

In a post-game interview, the LA Clippers guard remarked: "Honestly, I'm truly grateful." He expressed his gratitude for the blessings of skills and stamina that allowed him to play basketball for quite a long time, according to Clutch Points.

Russell Westbrook also noted that being on the NBA's all-time assists list is a "great honor" for him considering the many challenges he faced in his career playing at the point guard position.

LA Clippers superstar Paul George has heaped high praise on Westbrook, saying that he is worthy of being mentioned among the game's all-time greats.

James Harden Beats Michael Jordan's Free-Throw Record

Meanwhile, with the Philadelphia 76ers' incredible comeback victory, James Harden surpassed NBA superstar Michael Jordan on the all-time free throw list.

Although Joel Embiid was the game's most valuable player in Friday's victory against the Portland Trail Blazers, James Harden was even more impressive, passing Michael Jordan in free-throw scoring.

Embiid's late-game surge past the Trail Blazers' defense helped the 76ers win 120-119. Embiid led the team in scoring with 39 points, while Harden was second with 19.

James Harden scored all five of his points from the charity stripe, putting him ahead of Michael Jordan on the NBA's all-time list. Harden has moved up to sixth place in NBA all-time free throw scoring, passing Jordan by a single point, according to Mirror.

"The Beard" entered Friday's game requiring just five free throws to surpass Jordan's record of 7,327. On a clinical night for the 33-year-old, he converted all five of those opportunities.

With a current record of 44-22, the 76ers are third in the Eastern Conference but have already set their sights on the playoffs. The 76ers have been waiting 40 years for an NBA championship.

Harden, just like his former OKC Thunder teammate Westbrook, is attempting to add a championship title to his list of basketball records.

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NBA, Sports, United States, Russell westbrook, James harden, Philadelphia 76ers, Los angeles clippers, Basketball
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