James Harden praises Jason Kidd after becoming first Net with playoff triple-double since 2007

Every Nets game brings up the question of who's going to lead the way among the Big 3. Tuesday night was James Harden's turn.

Harden dropped a 30-point triple-double on the Celtics to help lead the Nets to a Game 5, series winning victory on Tuesday night. The Beard put up 34 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in the win, while Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving chipped in 24 points and 25 points, respectively. 

With the triple-double coming in the middle of the fourth quarter, Harden became the first Net since Jason Kidd in 2007 to record a playoff triple-double. Kidd spent six and a half seasons in New Jersey and led them to the NBA finals in back-to-back seasons from 2002-2003.

Kidd's name was brought up during the post game Zoom interviews, and Harden sang the Hall of Famer's praises.

"J. Kidd is one of them ones," Harden said. "He's one of them elite point guards that this league has ever seen, obviously, with his playmaking ability. He's a big guard, so he just did so many things at the time in New Jersey that us young guys looked at. So shoutout to J. Kidd."

Harden's triple-double was the 11th in franchise postseason history, with all of the other 10 belonging to Kidd.

The lefty guard has become the Nets' clear point guard ever since Irving handed him the reigns to the primary ball-handling spot earlier this season.

Though he missed nearly 30 games during the regular season, Harden still averaged 24.6 points, 10.9 assists and 8.5 rebounds since being traded to Brooklyn, clearly still his MVP-level self.

"I just came here to make an impact on the game," Harden said. "Whether it's scoring, whether it's rebounding, whether it's my ability to pass the basketball, whatever the case may be. And every game is a little bit different, but I just take what the defense gives me and I play basketball. Try to play basketball the right way each possession."

The Nets now move on to face the Milwaukee Bucks in what could arguably be the best series matchup of the entire NBA playoffs this season.