FYI.

This story is over 5 years old.

Sports

James Harden Hits First Quarter Buzzer Beater, Of Course Falls Down

The shot: classic Harden. The melodramatic falling down: also classic Harden.

If you follow the NBA, you spent all week getting updates about one man's ankle. That man is Stephen Curry. ESPN had somewhere north of 30—count them, 30—updates about the space between Steph's leg and foot. Someone who you haven't been getting second-by-second updates on? James Motherfucken Harden.

Everybody just about ruled out the Rockets' chances for this series, but the man's ability to ball puts them in a dangerous position. Even if Harden's hideously allergic to defense, he's still capable of hitting those shots that make you go: "Ah yes, that guy."

Prime example came in today's Game Four of the NBA Playoffs against No. 1 Warriors—at the end of the first quarter. As Harden found himself on the tail end of an inbounds play with just 3.4 seconds on the clock, he planted himself just outside the range of the midcourt logo, and banged out a nasty-ass three with the clock striking zero in midair. The shot? Disgusting. The follow-through? Harden basically saw the Warriors' Ian Clark fall down next to him, lay down, and even gave himself a little scoot with his hands along the floor. The refs were too privy to buy his cute little dive.

So, in sum? The shot: classic Harden. The melodramatic falling down: also classic Harden. Three points either way.