James Harden appeared to overcome his everlasting elimination sport woes by delivering probably the greatest late-series playoff performances of his profession to save lots of the Los Angeles Clippers in Recreation 6 towards the Denver Nuggets. Harden completed with 28 factors, eight assists, and 6 rebounds to tempo the Clippers to a blowout win that compelled a Recreation 7 within the Denver in the perfect first spherical collection of the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
The Clippers wanted Harden to be at his greatest once more with Recreation 7 in Denver. He didn’t ship.
The Nuggets rocked the Clippers, 120-101, to advance to a second-round matchup towards the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. The season is over after spherical one for each of LA’s NBA franchises, and the way in which this sport performed out will do nothing to vary Harden’s playoff fame.
Harden completed with seven factors, 13 assists, 5 rebounds, and two turnovers in 35 minutes within the loss. He shot 2-of-8 from the sphere, and completed -29 within the sport. The Nuggets dominated each section of the sport, and the Clippers definitely didn’t lose solely due to Harden. Denver’s aggressive traps compelled the ball out of Harden’s fingers and made him a playmaker, and his teammates couldn’t hit photographs. Nonetheless, Harden’s full incapacity to bend the Denver protection was an enormous cause the Clippers failed in such epic trend, and continues the narrative that’s marred his Corridor of Fame profession.
Harden is likely one of the best common season performers amongst guards in NBA historical past. It’s a distinct story within the playoffs, and particularly in elimination video games. Harden had performed in six Recreation 7s earlier than 2025. He was averaging 21.3 factors and 7 rebounds per sport in these contests, however he has shot solely 36.3 p.c from the ground and 22.2 p.c from the three-point line whereas averaging 4.3 turnovers per sport.
Right here’s a short historical past of his struggles in elimination video games:
- In 2023 as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, Harden completed a Recreation 7 loss to the Boston Celtics with 9 factors, seven assists, six rebounds, and 5 turnovers in 41 minutes on 3-of-11 capturing.
- In 2024 with the Clippers, Harden completed with 16 factors, 13 assists, and 7 rebounds on 5-of-16 capturing in 43 minutes in a loss to the Dallas Mavericks in Recreation 6 of their first-round collection.
- In 2021 with the Brooklyn Nets, Harden shot 5-of-17 from the sphere and 2-of-12 from three in a Recreation 7 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. He completed with 22 factors, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists.
- In 2015 with the Houston Rockets, Harden completed a Recreation 5 loss to the Golden State Warriors with 14 factors, six rebounds, 5 assists, and 12 turnovers on 2-of-11 capturing from the ground.
- In 2017 with the Rockets, Harden completed the Rockets’ Recreation 6 loss to the San Antonio Spurs with 10 factors, seven assists, and 6 turnovers on 2-of-11 capturing.
Harden has had some good elimination video games, like when he popped off for 35 factors on 11-of-25 capturing from the Rockets in 2019’s Recreation 6 defeat to the Warriors. Within the bubble in 2020, he completed with 30 factors (…. and 6 turnovers) on 12-of-20 capturing in a Recreation 5 loss to the Lakers.
Followers had a subject day with Harden’s struggles:
Each time I feel harden’s playoff resume can’t worsen he drops one other sport 7 stinker
— kyle (@knicks_tape99) Could 4, 2025
harden actually retains his haters fed in the course of the postseason. like they’ve gotten a decade of lowlights to select from lol
— SJ (@SJBasketball8) Could 4, 2025
Harden’s resume ought to make him one the best two-guards in NBA historical past. He has a authentic declare to being a top-50 participant all-time, and that is perhaps conservative. Harden gained 2018 NBA MVP, and completed second in voting three different occasions. His 2018 Rockets are probably the greatest groups ever to not attain the NBA Finals.
It’s simply unattainable to separate Harden’s superior common seasons from his playoff struggles. Harden turns 36 years outdated this summer season, and is definitely on the draw back of his profession. He had one other incredible common season for the Clippers, and will earn an All-NBA nod. Sadly, the way in which issues ended had been all too acquainted.