The Houston Rockets had become the hottest team in the league entering Wednesday's primetime matchup against the Golden State Warriors, winners of nine in a row before a 106-104 loss to the defending champions snapped their season-high mark. James Harden wasn't fazed when it comes to having that streak snapped by the lone team that stands in the Rockets' way for an NBA Finals appearance.
“It's OK,” Harden said when answering a question that started with how the Rockets were on a roll, according to ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk. “Yeah. Nah, it's all right, man. We lost. We know we did. Good thing about it is we play again on Friday. It's one loss.”
The Rockets had put together their best basketball following the break, putting out dangerous teams like the Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, and the Philadelphia 76ers in a streak that started with a 118-112 win over the Warriors on Feb. 23 after rebounding from a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Now at 42-26, the Rockets finds themselves in fourth place after having climbed to third — now with 14 games left to claim their stake at a top-three seed.
More than anyone else in the roster, Harden; the lone piece of this Houston team that's been in the roster since 2012, knows the grind it takes to compete in the Western Conference and the strong mentality it requires to stay in the race.
The Rockets will get their shot at the Warriors eventually, but with no meetings against them in the near future, all they have left is to fight for positioning and put themselves in the best situation come playoff time.
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