James Harden Benched 4th Quarter in Clippers’ Loss to Rockets, Confuses NBA Followers

The Houston Rockets have important momentum early within the 2024-25 season.

Houston improved to 5-1 in its final six and 8-4 general with a 111-103 victory over James Harden and the Los Angeles Clippers in Wednesday’s Western Convention showdown on the Toyota Heart.

Six totally different Rockets gamers scored in double figures, together with Jalen Inexperienced (21 factors, seven rebounds and 4 assists) and Alperen Şengün (13 factors, 11 rebounds, six assists and 4 blocks).

As for Los Angeles, it was 4-1 in its earlier 5 regardless that Kawhi Leonard is but to play this season however fell to only 6-6 general. Harden acquired off to a fast begin however struggled together with his shot for the rest of the sport as he completed with 19 factors, seven assists, six rebounds and three steals.

He additionally did not get the chance to rediscover his shot in crunch time, as head coach Tyronn Lue sat him on the bench for the whole thing of the fourth quarter. Norman Powell additionally did not play within the ultimate eight minutes, which had followers questioning the complete scenario:

Even earlier than he did not play within the fourth, Harden was beneath the highlight contemplating he performed for the Rockets from the 2012-13 season till they traded him to the Brooklyn Nets throughout the 2020-21 marketing campaign.

His title is all around the franchise document e book the place he’s second in Rockets historical past in complete factors, first in assists, first in three-point discipline targets made, first in triple-doubles, seventh in rebounds and third in steals. He additionally had the prospect to make NBA historical past, as he entered play simply six three-pointers behind Ray Allen for second all-time.

Solely Stephen Curry (3,779) has made extra profession threes than Allen’s 2,973, though it regarded like Harden would make the leap into second with a red-hot begin that noticed him join on his first 4 photographs from the sector and three photographs from downtown as he poured in 12 factors within the first quarter alone.

Nevertheless, Houston largely seized management from there with its balanced assault.

Inexperienced and Dillon Brooks discovered their stroke from deep, Amen Thompson and Tari Eason offered a set off the bench, Fred VanVleet added some scoring even whereas scuffling with effectivity, and Şengün did a bit of little bit of every part as he managed the boards, protected the rim and facilitated when defenders collapsed on him.

Consequently, the Rockets had been in full management by the fourth quarter, particularly with Harden struggling from the sector after his efficiency within the first quarter.

But Los Angeles minimize a 19-point deficit to as little as 4 by the ultimate two minutes earlier than Houston finally held on for the win. Maybe Lue did not wish to disrupt the momentum his crew constructed by placing Harden and Powell again into the sport throughout the run, nevertheless it nonetheless led to some questions from followers who had been watching.

The 2 groups play once more Friday, so Harden could have one other alternative handy his former membership a loss.