Nets star James Harden gave an MVP-level performance in San Antonio on Monday. That was just the warm-up, with the former MVP making his highly anticipated return to Houston on Wednesday.
“Yes, I am excited to go back to Houston, where I actually had an incredible career there,” said Harden. “They’ve shown me crazy love and respect and I’m just excited to play for those fans. Yes, I am quite excited. “
Harden has won the past three scoring titles with the Rockets and challenged Golden State’s dominance in the West by playing under current Nets assistant Mike D’Antoni. But after the team escaped the playoffs last season and forced a trade to Brooklyn in January, he is now going back for the first time.
[My] the time was great, ”said Harden. “We clearly fell short of winning a championship or even a final, but just the work I put into it, hopefully those fans appreciated everything I did on the field and off the field and I still continue to perform . the court, because that’s a place I call home.
“It’s always home and I feel like I’m still a part of everything and the struggles and everything they go through. I’m excited to go back and see the familiar faces, see my family and play a game and the last game before intermission. “
Nic Claxton finished with a career-high 17 points in 17 minutes for a breakout performance. He shot 7 out of 9 from the ground, had three blocks and shook himself off, not only with his left ankle rolled over, but with a shot to the face.
“Feeling good. Fair back in the trenches, get a little perked up and keep playing, feel good. Take care of my body and I’ll be ready when we play Houston,” said Claxton after his fourth game of the season.
“It felt good. I got a little bit of rhythm and I’m starting to get my legs back a little bit, so it felt good to be out there and my teammates liked me. James mostly put me in positions to score. When the game is like that. made easy for me, I take that free money every time. “
After Claxton turned 13 in the second quarter alone, Steve Nash praised his mobility and his work.
“Nic, we know the talent,” Nash said. “We all believe in Nic’s ability and what he brings to the table, but sometimes that development takes time. You can be pretty prone to error at times, especially if you haven’t played much basketball, but his ability to move his feet makes up for a lot of things on the floor. He can defend multiple positions.
“He’s so active, even when he’s overpowered, he really makes it difficult on bigger big ones. Tonight was clearly his breakout game, but he needs to keep developing, knowing the game plan, gaining experience and confidence, but tonight he was great, and we all believe in him and think he can keep improving. “