Of all the times James Harden had piled up numbers, all the MVP chants, all the roars as he put the finishing touches on masterpieces, this felt different.
A day that began with the sobering news that the already-shorthanded Rockets would be without center Clint Capela for at least a month ended with a long and loud standing ovation as Harden made his way to the bench early, his season-high 57 points lifting the Rockets to a 112-94 romp that sent a message that they won’t concede to the latest injury.
“No pressure,” Harden said on the way off the floor.