The Houston Rockets hung on to beat the Utah Jazz on Saturday night 104-101, but the win was almost in spite of James Harden, who had one of his most ignominious performances in a Rockets uniform.
Harden started the game 0-15 from the field and finished 3 of 20, needing help from his teammates and a great night at the free throw line (he was 14 of 16 from the stripe) to hang close and eventually win the game.
The shooting night was embarrassing, but fans weren’t really getting on Harden for having an off shooting night. He’s a good player and good players sometimes have off nights. What fans were getting after him about were the flops.
There was this piece of theater from Game 3, when a light touch in the back in the post sent him sprawling.
Then there was this masterpiece from Game 2, during which the Jazz’ Joe Ingles got past him, raised his arm a little bit, and Harden grabbed his throat as if he’d been struck by the late Bruce Lee himself.
Fans had a blast with it.
