James Harden says he only worries about being the best player on the court every night
Harden posts third career postseason triple-double as Rockets rout Jazz again to move into 2-0 lead in first-round playoff series
Thursday 18 April 2019 12:49, UK
James Harden posted a triple-double in the Houston Rockets Game 2 win over the Utah Jazz and said he only worries about being the best player on the court every night.
Harden erupted early, scoring 17 points in the first quarter alone, and finished the game with 32 points, 10 assists and 13 rebounds as Houston hammered Utah for the second successive game, their 118-98 victory earning them a 2-0 series advantage.
Asked about his stand-out performance after the game, Harden said: "I focus on 'in-game' and what I need to do. I'm worried about being the best player on the court every night."
Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni lavished praise on his star player. "That first quarter was ridiculous," he said. "What did he have, 17 points in the first? [He was] dicing everybody up. When he gets it rolling, nobody's better.
"He was shooting the ball so well at first. I think he went to his step-back a couple more times just because he was shooting so well. He just kind of feels what he has got for that night and if it [the shots] are going in he'll do that more often. If not, he'll drive [to the basket]."
Houston led by as many as 28 points with Harden scoring and facilitating with equal aplomb in the first half, leaving Utah scrambling to cover both his perimeter sharpshooting and his court vision as Rockets star repeatedly found open team-mates off his dribble penetration.
Houston forward PJ Tucker, was one of the beneficiaries of Harden's playmaking, hitting four three-pointers en route to 16 points.
"Chris and James, when they get the goodness going, when they push and are aggressive, it makes it easy for all of us," said Tucker.
Harden echoed those sentiments. He said: "If we keep going just like that, our guys are going to get open shots and you have to keep telling them 'be ready, make you're your feet are ready, as soon as that ball touches your hand, put [the shot] up'."
Jazz guard Ricky Rubio reflected on the difficulty Utah had containing Harden, particularly after his red-hot start to the game.
"He has a lot of weapons," he said. "He can read the game really well. We gave him different [defensive] looks from Game 1 but still, it's hard."
Game 3 takes place in Salt Lake City, Utah, in the early hours of Monday morning (2:30am).
