It took him 13 games but Harden cracked 30 points for the first time this season, and nearly hit 40. The Brooklyn Nets guard had 39 points and 12 assists to help Brooklyn hold off the New Orleans Pelicans 120-112 at the Smoothie King Center. “I’m getting there,” Harden said of him regaining his MVP form. “It wasn’t going to take long. I mean, this is the highest [level] in the sport is the NBA, the most talented players in this world. So it’s not going to be easy for me to just come out there and do what I do. It takes a lot of hard work to be playing at a point to which you guys have seen me play at. “When I’m not scoring 30 points, when I’m averaging 18-some points, it’s like, ‘What’s wrong with James?’ It’s pretty solid still. I’ve been playing so well and so extremely at another level to where you guys set standards for me, and I set standards for myself as well. For me, I just continue to work. I feel a lot better, and the work don’t stop.”