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Toyota Center public announcer Matt Thomas attempted to use the same tone and excitement on Wednesday night when James Harden’s turn came in the starting lineup introductions as he did over the eight previous seasons.
The circumstances, of course, were quite different. So did fans of the Houston Rockets, who greeted Harden with a mixture of cheers and boos as the 2017-18 MVP returned to face his former team for the first time since being asked to be. traded to the Brooklyn Nets had been granted seven weeks ago.
“When it comes to playing in Houston, a lot of mixed emotions for the fans, but I knew it was going to happen,” said Harden. “I just wanted to come here and give them a show.”
Harden pulled off the kind of spectacular performance that has been almost routine for him since joining the Nets. He had 29 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists to lead Brooklyn to a 132-114 victory over the injury-ravaged Rockets, his eighth triple-double in 23 games for the Nets, who enter the All-Star break after have won 10 of their last 11 games.
It was the 13th straight loss for the Rockets, who were limited to eight players available as the franchise’s longest losing streak in two decades extended until the All-Star break.
“The way we lost, we really need a break to clear our minds, find ourselves, try to get some guys back healthy, try to get a full squad back,” Rockets point guard John Wall said. , who scored 36 points. on 12 out of 30 shoots in 41 minutes. “I don’t know when the last time we had a full squad. Tonight we came in with just eight guys, but we kept fighting. We kept competing, we kept fighting. beat, and that’s something you can respect. “
A handful of fans in the reduced-capacity crowd booed Harden whenever he touched the ball early in the game, expressing their displeasure that Harden had forced the Rockets to trade him, a divorce process he admitted has become more tense and bitter than he would have been. love. Harden, who according to research from Elias Sports Bureau became the sixth player to record a triple-double in his first game against his former team, said the boos hadn’t hit him.
“Once I’m on this court I just try to win,” said Harden, who was 10 of 15 off the field. “I’m not really worried about anything else. It was kind of my feeling – winning the game and doing whatever it takes to do what you did. I wasn’t trying to show, I wasn’t. wasn’t trying to do anything out of the ordinary that I haven’t done. “
The Rockets, as an organization, have warmly welcomed Harden to Houston. He chatted with and kissed several Houston staff and players before and after the game. A tribute video, featuring highlights from Harden’s eight seasons in Houston and his charitable acts in the community, played during the game’s first timeout.
“You could tell it meant something to him,” Nets coach Steve Nash said. “This place is special to James. Houston means a lot to him – the city, the organization, what he’s accomplished here with this team. I know it was a great game for him. I’m proud of the way. which he managed it. “
Harden said he learned “on the internet” on Tuesday that Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta planned to remove Harden’s No.13 jersey and hang it on the rafters at Toyota Center.
“My reaction was to hope I did something right. Obviously I missed a championship, but the work on and off the pitch [I] I think that’s the only thing I haven’t done or accomplished is a championship, which is hard to achieve. But in terms of bringing excitement to this city, taking care of the fans on and off the pitch, that’s something I’ve tried to contribute, so hopefully that outweighs it. that. [lack of a championship]. “
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