What the @#$% was that, Rockets?

The Rockets, facing elimination at home against a Spurs team missing Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker, lost by 39 points. Thirty. Nine. Points.

In the first quarter, Jonathon Simmons outscored James Harden 7-2. Harden didn’t attempt a field goal until halfway into the second quarter. At that point, the Rockets trailed by 21. He had five points at halftime on 1-of-2 shooting. He finished with 10 points on 2-of-11 shooting with six turnovers. He fouled out!

James Harden was so inexplicably bad, that you hear Stephen A. Smith theorize on SportsCenter that someone “slipped something in his drink” and you’re like “... well?”

What an ignominious end for Harden and the Rockets.

What a victory for the San Antonio Spurs, who always have something up their sleeve. (Against the Warriors, they really need Kawhi, though. Reports suggest he will be available for Game 1 on Sunday.)

I’d like to note for the record that in the most famous win of the Harden era in Houston, Game 6 of the West semifinals against the Clippers, your boy, The Beard, was 5-of-20 from the field, sat the entire fourth in which the comeback took place, and was a -20 for the game.

Lego Master Builder Zito Madu argues that Harden struggles in the clutch because he thinks too much.

An argument from Mike Finger that, had the Rockets taken a page from the Spurs and rested Harden during the season, they may not have flamed out.

Tim Cato is out here reminding us that Harden still had an amazing, historic season (true) and should be the MVP (uhhh).

Can the Wizards figure out what to do with Al Horford? Washington faces elimination Friday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.

I wrote about Kelly Olynyk and the spectrum of dirty play in basketball. Nothing is binary, y’all!

Very interesting thoughts from the very interesting John Lucas on the perils of addiction.

A plea from Wendi C. Thomas to stop saying the Grizzlies being in the playoffs solves Memphis’ deep divides.

LeBron James gave David Fizdale (his old assistant coach in Miami before the TAKE THAT FOR DATA days) an amazing wedding gift: a co-star role in a Samsung commercial that came with a payday. Part of me thinks that’s the coolest thing ever. Part of me is wondering why LeBron couldn’t get him a Crock-Pot, too. Don’t be cheap, Bronny.