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James Harden of the Houston Rockets, the 2014-15 NBA season leader in points per game, has been dealt a one-game suspension for kicking Cleveland Cavaliers star and fellow MVP candidate LeBron James in the groin during their clash on Monday night.
Houston ran out winners in overtime against the championship heavyweights Cleveland 105-103, thanks to two missed free throws from LeBron in the dying seconds.
The win continues a five-game winning streak for Houston.
The match, from an audience point-of-view, looked like it matched the intensity of a playoff game. There were 5 technical fouls called throughout, combined with 16 fouls committed in the third quarter alone.
After being double-teamed by LeBron James and James Jones, Harden took exception to the harassment by falling to the floor and giving his rival a nudge to the groin via his foot.
Harden was then given a flagrant one penalty, which resulted in the one-game ban for his actions.
Harden finished with 33 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists in his duel with LeBron and the Cavaliers to further establish his credentials for taking home this season’s MVP award.
“Both teams competed hard, and I’m glad we came out with the victory,” Harden said at the game’s conclusion.
The MVP race is hotting up and it seems Harden came out on top in this duel between two favourites. It helped his cause that LeBron shot 3 for 11 from the free-throw line, a statistic sure to be noticed by others in the league.
Harden will miss Wednesday’s game against the Eastern Conference-leading Atlanta Hawks.
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