James Harden and the Houston Rockets entered the Toyota Center on Monday as a bloody, wounded mess. Not only 0-3, but with the dubious distinction of being the only team in the history of the NBA to lose each of their first three games by at least twenty points. Think about that…for two years straight the Philadelphia 76’ers and LA Lakers have lost games on purpose and neither have been able to accomplish this feat. Seriously–think about that.
Harden entered the game at 3-32 from behind the arc, and btw you don’t have to be John Hollinger to know that’s really bad. But even with all this in play, Thunder fans feared this game and the notion of James Harden breaking their collective hearts again in this early season statement game to see whether the Thunder are contenders or pretenders to seriously challenge Golden State for the Western Conference championship.
OKC led at halftime 65-54 which wasn’t shocking considering how bad Houston had played defensively entering this game. But then something curious happened at the 9:24 mark of the third period with OKC still firmly in control and leading 71-57…Russell Westbrook got his fourth foul and sat the bench.
Westbrook would not re-enter the game for the remainder of the third period. When the final 9:24 of the third period had elapsed the Houston Rockets led 82-79. Do the math– in that nine minute span OKC was outscored 25-8 without Westbrook.
Just for good measure Patrick Beverly once again got under Westbrook’s skin initiating what turned out to be a double technical at the 7:33 mark in the fourth period. No blood, no harm. Play on. We’d feel let down otherwise.
But coming down the stretch Harden made the winning plays while Durant and Westbrook didn’t. Harden finished with 37 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and two blocked shots. James Harden is easily my OKCThunderGround. com No. 1 Star of the Game.
Durant finished with 29 points, 4 rebounds, zero assists and 5 turnovers. Westbrook in thirty-two minutes of play almost had a triple double with 25 points, 8 rebounds, 11 assists and 7 turnovers…. which leads directly into the most telling stat of the night for OKC, that being — 17 assists to 24 turnovers. You don’t beat good teams if you don’t take of the ball. Period.
OKC leaves the Toyota Center with what has to be a bad feeling in that they could have opened 4-0 and given the Houston Rockets a standing eight count. Instead, James Harden broke Thunder hearts…again.
Mike Jackson