MVP favorite James Harden played phenomenally in this year's NBA playoffs—contrary to his reputation—but he wasn't exactly himself when his team needed him the most. The Houston Rockets took an 11-point lead into halftime of Game 7 Monday, but the Golden State Warriors stormed back in the second half to claim a 101-92 win and advance to the NBA Finals.
Harden finished with 32 points (on 12-for-29 shooting), six rebounds, and six rebounds, but he struggled in the second half. With his co-star, Chris Paul, sidelined, Houston relied on Harden to create offense, but his shots weren't falling. His struggles delighted his critics.
After the game, Harden's opponent and former Oklahoma City teammate, Kevin Durant, said the Warriors planned to tire out Harden and knew he would wear down eventually.
Durant racked up 34 points, five rebounds, and five assists in the W. His team advanced to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals, which commence Thursday at 9 p.m. EST.
Related Stories
Here's How Vegas Foresees the NBA Finals Playing Out
The Warriors will be heavily favored in this year's NBA Finals.
Rockets Fans Blame Ted Cruz for Game 7 Loss
The U.S. Senator came under fire for cursing the Rockets.
Rockets Blow Game 7, Warrior and Cavs Set for Finals, Kobe Ends the GOAT Debate | Out of Bounds
<p>On this episode of #OutofBounds, take a look at what went wrong for the Rockets in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals. After a first half lead, Houston went on a record-setting cold streak from the three point line, and lost it to the Warriors, 101-92. So, should the "L" be blamed on bad shooting or
