Fastbreak

James Harden Facing Backlash From NBA World For Clippers-Nuggets Game

James Harden had a poor performance in Game 5.

Ben Stinar

Jan 6, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (1) reacts to his offensive foul call as he charged against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the third quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
Jan 6, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (1) reacts to his offensive foul call as he charged against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the third quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images / Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

On Tuesday night, the LA Clippers played the Denver Nuggets in Colorado for Game 5 of their first-round playoff series.

The Clippers lost by a score of 131-115.

They now trail the series 3-2 with Game 6 on Thursday night in Los Angeles.

James Harden finished the loss with 11 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals while shooting 3/9 from the field and 0/2 from the three-point range in 35 minutes of playing time.

Many people reacted to his performance on social media.

Jason Timpf: "James Harden is operating at a level of intensity so far below the moment... its jarring."

@10blended: "You can never trust James Harden, never. He’ll always let you down no matter what"

@TheHateCentral: "James Harden in Game 5:

11 Points
3-9 FG
5-8 FT
4 Turnovers
4 Fouls

ALWAYS HAS A SIGNATURE CHOKE GAME IN THE PLAYOFFS"

Ramona Shelburne: "If it felt like James Harden wasn’t that involved tonight, he wasn’t. According to @ESPNStatsInfo LA averaged just 0.72 points per play on the 35 plays Harden was involved in. Both are his lowest marks of the series."

Josh Eberley 🇨🇦: "You know what’s crazy?

Game 5: James Harden tonight; 9 points, 2-8 shooting.

That’s not the crazy part, the crazy part is he actually has more points tonight than in Game 5 last year lol."

@ZlatniTopki: "These are the type of games that the James Harden playoff narrative make sense

Just jogging around the court dreaming of wingstop"

James Harden
Apr 29, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; LA Clippers guard James Harden (1) pulls in a rebound in the second half against the Denver Nuggets during game five of the first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images / Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Harden is in his second season playing for the Clippers.

They lost in the first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs to the Dallas Mavericks.

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Ben Stinar
BEN STINAR

Ben Stinar covers basketball for ''Ball Around on SI'' and ''Fastbreak on SI'' and other Hilltop30 Media Group sites on the Sports Illustrated network.