Toyota Center announcer Matt Thomas tried to use the same tone and enthusiasm on Wednesday night, when James Harden appeared at the team’s introductions, as he did in the previous eight seasons.
The circumstances, of course, were quite different. This was the reaction of the Houston Rockets fans, who greeted Harden with a mixture of cheers and boos when the 2017-18 MVP returned to face his former team for the first time since his request to be negotiated with the Brooklyn Nets was granted. , seven weeks ago.
“When it comes to playing in Houston, there were 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 has succeeded with the kind of spectacular performance that has been almost routine for him since joining the Nets. He made 29 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists to lead Brooklyn to a 132-114 victory over the devastated Rockets, their eighth triple-double in 23 games for the Nets, who enter the All-Star range having won 10 of their last 11 games.
It was the 13th consecutive loss for the Rockets, who were limited to eight available players while the franchise’s longest losing streak in two decades extended to the All-Star break.
“The way we’re losing, we definitely need a break to clear our minds, meet, try to make some guys healthy, try to form a complete team again,” said Rockets playmaker John Wall, who scored 36 points on 12 30 shootings in 41 minutes. “I don’t know when it was the last time we had a complete team. Tonight we went in with just eight guys, but we haven’t stopped fighting. We keep on competing, we keep fighting, and that is something you can respect.”
Some fans in the reduced-capacity crowd booed Harden every time he touched the ball early in the game, expressing his displeasure at Harden forcing the Rockets to change him, a divorce process he acknowledged became more tense and bitter than he was. would have appreciated. Harden, who according to the Elias Sports Bureau survey became the sixth player to get a triple-double in his first game against his former team, said the boos did not affect him.
“After I get on the court, just try to win,” said Harden, who was on 10 out of 15 points. “I’m not really worried about anything else. That was my feeling – winning the game and doing whatever it takes to do what you’ve been doing. I wasn’t trying to show off, I wasn’t trying to do something out of the ordinary that I didn’t I have done. “
The Rockets, as an organization, welcomed Harden back to Houston. He talked and hugged several Houston employees 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 first half out of the game.
“I could tell it meant something to him,” said Nets coach Steve Nash. “This place is special to James. Houston means a lot to him – the city, the organization, what he has achieved here with this team. I know it was a great game for him. I am proud of the way he handled it.”
Harden said he learned “on the Internet” on Tuesday that Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta plans to retire Harden’s shirt 13 and hang it on the rafters at the Toyota Center.
“My reaction was hopefully I did something right. Obviously, I was close to a championship, but the work on and off the court that [I] placed in these past eight years has been elite, “he said.” I think the only thing I didn’t or didn’t do was a championship, which is difficult to achieve. But when it comes to bringing excitement to this city, taking care of the fans on and off the court, it’s something that I tried to contribute, so I hope it will get over this [lack of a championship]. “