Key battle curse! 7 points and 13 assists, Harden s embarrassing answer sheet for tiebreakers, can he still prove himself?

On the NBA playoff stage, every game is full of suspense and passion, and for stars, the performance of key battles is an important moment that determines historical status. James Harden, the shining star in the regular season, has been in trouble in key battles and has become the focus of hot discussion among fans and media.

Reviewing the 2025 NBA playoff series between the Clippers and Nuggets, the defeat in the tiebreak battle shattered the Clippers' dream and made Harden stand at the forefront of public opinion again. He made 2 of 8 shots in the game and scored only 7 points. Although he gave 13 assists, such offensive efficiency is really unsatisfactory for a core player. This performance was not accidental, but continued the label of "critical battles" in his career.

Harden's key battle data is shocking. He has participated in 24 series of life and death games in his career, averaging 22.5 points per game, shooting percentage of 41.7%, and three-point shooting percentage of 31.5%, but his record is only 3 wins and 21 losses. The performance in the Battle of Tianwang Mountain was even more dismal. In the past three games, Tianwang Mountain had a total of 35 points, with a shooting percentage of 35.3% and a three-point shooting percentage of 16.7%. In 2025, he played against the Nuggets in G5, he scored only 11 points on 3 of 9 shots, with a plus-minus value of -16.

From a technical perspective, Harden's offense is highly dependent on free throws and three-point shooting. In the regular season, this style of play allowed him to kill all sides, but in the playoffs, the referee's penalty standards tightened, the opponent's defense intensity increased, and his scoring efficiency dropped significantly. At the same time, Harden also has obvious shortcomings on the defensive end, and problems such as missing people and not being stuck in positions often occur, becoming an important factor in the team's failure. In addition, psychological and physical fitness factors also restrict Harden's performance in key battles. In a high-pressure environment, he is prone to choose to pass the ball "safety ball" instead of taking the initiative. In the tiebreaker battle in 2025, Harden only made 6 shots in the first three quarters, and was even more invisible in the last quarter, without showing the responsibility a superstar should have. At the age of 36, his physical fitness problems have become increasingly prominent in the high-intensity series, making it difficult to maintain stable output, which has also led to his often weak at critical moments of the game.

The outside world also has mixed reviews of Harden's key battle performance. CCTV commentator said that he "lacks the killer instinct like Kobe and Durant". NetEase and other media bluntly said that "losing the game is not scary, but what is scary is that he cannot see the fighting spirit." Some fans even joked that he "successfully scored seven points in the tiebreak", and his words were full of disappointment. However, there were also voices defending him. Commentator Xu Jingyu mentioned that Harden had fought with injuries in G6 for 47 minutes and scored 28 points, showing his short-term explosive power, but such highlight moments are too few in his key battle resume.

Harden's key battle performance is also closely related to his team's performance. The Clippers' best record since Ballmer's acquisition is only one Western Conference Final, and Harden has not been able to change this situation after joining. His dilemma of not having a championship so far in his career is in sharp contrast with the repeated downturns in key battles, and also makes his career full of regrets.

If Harden wants to get rid of the "key battle curse", he must make technical adjustments, improve his mid-range shooting ability, reduce his reliance on free throws and three-pointers, and at the same time strengthen defense and improve his contribution to the defensive end. On the psychological level, he needs to overcome fear and hesitation in a high-pressure environment, regain his confidence, and show a stronger desire to win and a leader temperament. Only in this way can Harden prove himself in the critical battle, rewrite his destiny, and completely disappear doubts.