James Harden Scores Overtime Game-Winner Against Warriors After Wild Missed Call

Basketball culture’s mythical “ball don’t lie” maxim is just as it implies. If there’s a questionable call, the ever-truthful Spalding will go through the hoop for the call’s beneficiary if it’s right, or will do the same for the other side instead if it’s wrong. Here’s NBA great Rasheed Wallace with an example.

James Harden delivered an even wilder example in Thursday night’s game against the Warriors. In the final moments of an overtime that was essentially Golden State vs. Harden, Kevin Durant scrambled for a loose ball as it went out of bounds for a desperation pass to Klay Thompson, who then tossed the ball to Steph Curry for the mid-range jumper to put the Warriors ahead. This would be typical Golden State if Durant’s entire body wasn’t out of bounds when he threw the ball.

lmao Durant clearly out of bounds pic.twitter.com/ogzb1FEnWB

— Ⓜ️arcusD ᴿᴵᴾ ᴹᵃʳᶜᵘˢᴰ² (@_MarcusD3_) January 4, 2019

This was going to be a bitter end to a game that saw the Rockets coming from being down 20 to Harden sending it to overtime with a 3-pointer over Durant. But the ball does not lie. After the blown call, Harden drained a 3-pointer from the right wing over Draymond Green. And that was game: 135-134, Rockets.

James. Harden. Calls. GAME! 🔥#Rockets pic.twitter.com/73fz62Xlf1

— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 4, 2019

That’s exactly why they got gamed Cause ball don’t lie pic.twitter.com/Q69JPzon2C

— ✯ † STEEZ † ✯ (@mudboywest) January 4, 2019

JAMES HARDEN. BALL DON’T LIE. WHAT IS HAPPENING.

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) January 4, 2019

Ball don’t lie.

— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) January 4, 2019

BALL DONT LIE. EVER.

— Kazeem Famuyide (@RealLifeKaz) January 4, 2019

Harden is hot. This 44-point thriller is his fifth straight 40-plus performance; the additional 10 rebounds and 15 assists make this the first 40-point triple-double since Chris Webber’s in 1995, according to StatMuse.

James Harden is the first player with a 40-point triple-double in a regular season game against the Warriors since Chris Webber in 1995. #HOUvsGSW

📊 https://t.co/3wcqCG2jnt pic.twitter.com/j3ldL97xBs

— StatMuse (@statmuse) January 4, 2019