Houston Rockets stars and former league MVPs James Harden and Russell Westbrook each finished with their share of highlights and a win at Sunday’s 2020 NBA All-Star Game in Chicago.
The Houston guards competed together with Team LeBron, as drafted by Los Angeles Lakers star and top Western Conference vote-getter LeBron James. Team LeBron won the game, 157-155 (box score), with Harden recording 11 points and six assists in 17 minutes as a starter. Westbrook had six points and three rebounds in 27 minutes off the bench.
Game MVP Kawhi Leonard led Team LeBron with 30 points and seven rebounds, while reigning league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo paced Team Giannis with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks.
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Harden hit what appeared to be the game-winning 3-pointer in the closing moments, but it was wiped away on a controversial offensive foul call drawn by Toronto’s Kyle Lowry. Ultimately, Anthony Davis clinched the victory for Harden and Westbrook’s team with a later free throw.
James Harden thought he had the winning 3, but Kyle Lowry drew the offensive foul! #NBAAllStar
đ„: @BleacherReport
pic.twitter.com/HPj5wKtS06— USA TODAY NBA (@usatodaynba) February 17, 2020
Officials deciding not to count Harden baskets that would've won the game. Looks like the All-Star Game is just like the regular season.
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) February 17, 2020
It was the ninth All-Star nod for Westbrook and the eighth for Harden, who hit a crucial 3-pointer and two free throws in the fourth quarter to help secure the win. Harden also contributed to several late defensive stops in the low post versus the likes of Toronto forward Pascal Siakam.
HARDEN LOOKING LIKE PJ WITH THAT POST DEFENSE
— Rocketgirl (@00rocketgirl) February 17, 2020
James Harden is in the 95th percentile in post-up defense. Opposing players are shooting 26.8% against him on post-ups. He's always been a good post-up defender, so don't understand this strategy. If you want to "take advantage" of Harden defensively, posting him up isn't optimal https://t.co/hARx2zSykt
— Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) February 17, 2020
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Harden was the only starter on Team LeBron with a positive point differential (+3) during his minutes, and he was part of the closing lineup with James, Leonard, Davis, and former Rockets point guard Chris Paul.
Hard3n with the tough 3! pic.twitter.com/IQjGKw4Hh1
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) February 17, 2020
.@russwest44 throwing alley-oops too! pic.twitter.com/2f2kPLqfVW
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) February 17, 2020
Harden leads the NBA with a 35.3 points per game scoring average this season, along with 7.3 assists. Meanwhile, Westbrook is averaging 27.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 7.2 assists. They’re the league’s top-scoring duo, and are currently on pace to become the first pair of teammates in NBA history to each average at least 25 points and seven assists.
All-Star Break Update: Both James Harden (35.3 PPG, 7.3 APG) and Russell Westbrook (27.2 PPG, 7.2 APG) are averaging at least 25.0 points and 7.0 assists this season. No set of teammates have ever averaged 25+ points 7+ assists in a single season in NBA history. #Rockets
— Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) February 13, 2020
As for 2019-20 regular season games, the Rockets (34-20) return to action on Thursday night at Golden State (12-42). That game tips off at 9:30 p.m. Central, with an exclusive national broadcast on TNT.
Houston entered the All-Star break having won five of its last seven games, and it could have been six if not for the stunning buzzer-beater last Sunday from Utah’s Bojan Bogdanovic.
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The Beard and The Brodie represented at #NBAAllStar!
âïžđ„â€”ïž pic.twitter.com/nvG7gYCIbr
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) February 17, 2020