Toyota Center announcer Matt Thomas tried to use the same tone and excitement on Wednesday night when it was James Harden’s turn in the introductions to the starting lineup, as in the previous eight seasons.
The circumstances were, of course, very different. So was the response from Houston Rockets fans, who greeted Harden with a mixture of cheers and boo when the 2017-18 MVP returned to meet his former team for the first time since his request to be traded to the Brooklyn Nets seven. weeks ago. .
“There was a lot of mixed feelings among the fans about playing in Houston, but I knew that was going to happen,” said Harden. “I just wanted to come over here and give them a show.”
Harden succeeded with the kind of spectacular performance that had 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-ridden Rockets, his eighth triple-double in 23 games for the Nets entering the All-Star break and 10 of their have won. past 11 games.
It was the 13th consecutive loss to the Rockets, who were limited to eight available players, as the franchise’s longest losing streak in two decades was extended to the All-Star break.
“As we were losing, we definitely need a break to clear our minds, find ourselves, try to get some guys healthy, try to get a full team back,” said Rockets point guard John Wall. who scored 36 points. when shooting 12 of 30 in 41 minutes. “I don’t know when the last time we had a full team. Tonight we went in with just eight guys, but we didn’t stop fighting. We kept competing, we kept fighting, and that’s one thing you can respect. “
A few fans in the reduced-capacity venue chased Harden out every time he touched the ball early in the game, voicing their displeasure that Harden had forced the Rockets to swap him, a divorce lawsuit he has admitted to more exciting and bitter than he would have done. Liked. Harden, who became the sixth player to post a triple-double in his first game against his former team, according to research from Elias Sports Bureau, said the booing didn’t affect him.
“Once I get on that track, it’s just trying to win,” said Harden, who was 10 out of 15 off the floor. “I’m not really worried about anything. That was kind of my gut – win the game and do whatever it takes to do what you’ve done. I wasn’t trying to show off, I wasn’t trying to do something extraordinary that I didn’t do. “
The Rockets as an organization gave Harden a warm welcome back to Houston. He talked to and hugged several Houston staffers and players before and after the game. A tribute video, featuring highlights from Harden’s eight seasons in Houston and his community charities, played during the first timeout of the game.
“You could say 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’s accomplished here with this team. I know it was a big game for him. I’m proud of the way he handled it. . “
Harden said he heard “on the Internet” on Tuesday that Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta plans to eventually retire Harden’s No. 13 shirt and hang it in the rafters of the Toyota Center.
“My reaction was hopefully that I was doing something right. Obviously I was short of a championship, but the work on and off the track that [I] which has been deployed as an elite for the past eight years, “he said.” I think that’s the one thing I haven’t done or haven’t reached, which 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 field is something I tried to contribute so hopefully that outweighs [lack of a championship]