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That was dumb.
The Wizards had that one. Like, it was theirs, up two with four seconds left, and then James Harden went and swindled Dick Bavetta (bless his heart) into calling a game-swinging foul on Trevor Ariza, even though the contact was mutual and run-of-the-mill for a last-second inbounds play. Jerk move, James. Jerk move.
Of course, Harden made the free throw (he went 16-for-16 from the line), and then the Wizards went and let him score the game-winning layup with 0.7 seconds remaining, but not before Dwight Howard clearly held John Wall on a screen to free Harden. Naturally, Bavetta didn't see that one.
Kevin Seraphin missed an open jumper, because this is Kevin Seraphin we're talking about, and the Wiz lost, 113-112. Too bad, because Ariza played one of his better games, scoring 32 points on 10-of-14 shooting from three. Wall scored an inefficient 19 points, but racked up 14 assists with zero turnovers, and Bradley Beal chipped in 20 points. Nene shot 75 percent en route to a 21-point night.
Eve before Harden's flop, it was a wonder the Wizards were even in this game, given that the Rockets took 47 foul shots, and the Wiz took 16. I'm guessing this made a difference in a one-point game. But forget that for a second, and let's just hate Harden together.
Yeah, that's better.
KEY LINKS
Home team recaps: BF StoryStream | Washington Post (gamer, sidebar, Bog) | AP | CSN Washington | Wiz of Awes | Hoop District | Ted's Take | Wizards.com | Monumental Network
Road team recaps: The Dream Shake | Houston Chronicle | Red94 | Space City Scoop | CBS Houston | SI | Dime Magazine
Postgame interviews: Randy Wittman | Trevor Ariza | Bradley Beal | John Wall
KEY STATS
3:1 - The free-throw ratio between the Rockets and Wizards. Houston attempted 47 free throws (!!), making 35 of them (!!!), while Washington took only 16 freebies, making only eight of them.
26 - Houston turnovers against Washington. This was pretty much the only reason the Wizards were in a position to win at the end. The Rockets shot 53.1 percent, outrebounded the Wizards by 16, and again, took 47 freaking free throws.
TWEETS OF THE NIGHT
Here's the thing...all of #WizardsTwitter agreed that Harden flopped, the Wizards got jobbed by the refs (specifically resident NBA ghoul Dick Bavetta), and then didn't get the makeup call when Dwight Howard held Wall on Harden's game-winning layup. That is, except for one Wizards blogger, who shall remain nameless (for now), who insisted that it had been ARIZA who fouled HARDEN, and that the refs had no choice but to call the foul.
See if you can pick out our mystery blogger, as we relive the horror as it transpired on Twitter.
John Wall FTs, sonnnnnnn. Wiz up 112-110 with 4 seconds to go. Timeout, Houston. #LeaguePassAlert
— Bullets Forever (@BulletsForever) February 13, 2014
Wizards up 2, Rockets ball, 4 seconds left #LEAGUEPASSYOYO
— Adam McGinnis (@adammcginnis) February 13, 2014
This is when things we're still happy, and the Wizards were up two with four seconds to play. How could they mess this up?
I'm already sad and the rockets haven't hit the game winning 3 yet
— Chris Ford (@DCSportsNexus) February 13, 2014
SHUT UP.
… … … … …
— Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN) February 13, 2014
THAT'S BULLSHIT!
— Ben M (@BenAgent0) February 13, 2014
Must have been 4.9999999999999999 seconds
— Bullets Forever (@BulletsForever) February 13, 2014
That's about the dumbest shit I've ever seen.
— Conor Dirks (@ConorDDirks) February 13, 2014
Give me a break
— Umair Khan (@UKhanNBA) February 13, 2014
Well how about that
— ᴡɪᴢ sᴘᴜʀᴛɪɴ (@Wiz_Spurtin) February 13, 2014
Those were the initial reactions to Harden's flop (see below for video). But wait, there was more. Much more.
harden's flops are bad for the nba. period. #nba
— Brandon Goldner (@GoldnerPDX) February 13, 2014
Oh my f'ing god, that was 5 seconds you a-hole refs
— Chris Ford (@DCSportsNexus) February 13, 2014
I mean, that’s the most obvious foul call.
— Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN) February 13, 2014
I'm not saying this is a clue as to the identity of our mystery blogger, but it might a clue as to the identity of our mystery blogger.
Harden grabbed Ariza and dragged him down, RETIRE THIS OLD MAN
— Adam McGinnis (@adammcginnis) February 13, 2014
That was a horse shit flop by #JamesHarden c'mon!! #Wizards
— David Owens (@DaveOwensWUSA) February 13, 2014
Cool, and 80 year old ref...
— Danny (@recordsANDradio) February 13, 2014
@TrevorAriza after the foul @WashWizards #WizRockets pic.twitter.com/HMsz1Ksk3O
— Jumoke Davis (@jumokedavis) February 13, 2014
Dick Bavetta was born in 1939, get him out of making decisions with the best athletes in the world
— Adam McGinnis (@adammcginnis) February 13, 2014
Ariza was holding both of Harden’s arms. That was real silly.
— Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN) February 13, 2014
Cough.
This is absurd.
— Bullets Forever (@BulletsForever) February 13, 2014
I just watched in slow motion, the ref did 5 arm counts and there was no 5 second call
— Chris Ford (@DCSportsNexus) February 13, 2014
If I'm Houston, I just run into the closest person here.
— Conor Dirks (@ConorDDirks) February 13, 2014
Wizards got robbed. Atrocious. I'm disgusted.
— Ben M (@BenAgent0) February 13, 2014
#SOWIZARDS #SOWIZARDS #SOWIZARDS #SOWIZARDS #SOWIZARDS #SOWIZARDS #SOWIZARDS #SOWIZARDS #SOWIZARDS #SOWIZARDS #SOWIZARDS #SOWIZARDS
— Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN) February 13, 2014
COUGH.
That was pathetic, @JHarden13.
— Ben M (@BenAgent0) February 13, 2014
How do you let Harden get a layup? Come on Wiz..
— Kevin (@HTTR24_7) February 13, 2014
...............
— HELLO my name is (@JohnCTownsend) February 13, 2014
That's it, Wizards. Guard the entire floor except for A LANE LEADING RIGHT TO THE BASKET.
— Michael Jenkins (@JenksCSN) February 13, 2014
Harden hits a FT after a foul called away from the ball, then he hits a layup, #Wizards down 113-112, 0.7 sec left #WizRockets
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) February 13, 2014
Ah this is what it's like to be the Timberwolves
— ᴡɪᴢ sᴘᴜʀᴛɪɴ (@Wiz_Spurtin) February 13, 2014
Howard just did a moving pick, of course
— Adam McGinnis (@adammcginnis) February 13, 2014
Seraphin was too scared to even touch Harden there.
— Conor Dirks (@ConorDDirks) February 13, 2014
Devastating outcome. #wizards
— Chris Johnson (@CJsVictory) February 13, 2014
JAMES HARDEN IS A HOT KNIFE. WIZ IS MARGARINE.
— wizznutzz (@wzzntzz) February 13, 2014
Well, the new Commissioner is going to have to decide if game-deciding flops are reversible. I imagine he won't.
— Bullets Forever (@BulletsForever) February 13, 2014
James Harden is CLUTCH! Harden hits a free throw, then a driving layup with 0.7 left to give Rockets lead over Wizards. He has 35 points.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 13, 2014
Also, Dwight Howard blatantly held John Wall.
— Kyle Weidie (@Truth_About_It) February 13, 2014
The Wizards...
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) February 13, 2014
Harden got free because Howard FOULED Wall, Wizards were jobbed
— Adam McGinnis (@adammcginnis) February 13, 2014
Can’t believe that just happened.
— Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN) February 13, 2014
COUGH.
pathetic all the way around. Bad officiating, bad decision by Ariza to put himself in position where that call could be made...then....
— Kevin Sheehan (@kevins980) February 13, 2014
Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Wizards
— Andrew Sharp (@andrewsharp) February 13, 2014
Seraphin's shot at buzzer is no good, #Wizards drop a heartbreaker, 113-112 in Houston. #WizRockets
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) February 13, 2014
I could do the whole "well, the Wizards shouldn't have let the game get away from them" or "hit your FTs." But DAMN that flop burns.
— Bullets Forever (@BulletsForever) February 13, 2014
Washington finds a way.
— Rob Mahoney (@RobMahoney) February 13, 2014
wiz :(
— Satchel Price (@SatchelPrice) February 13, 2014
Trevor Ariza, we're sorry your awesomeness was in vain. Wiz drop the game in Houston after a massive comeback 113-112.
— Bullets Forever (@BulletsForever) February 13, 2014
— T.J. Doyle (@gheorghetheblog) February 13, 2014
I am not mad. I'm just disappointed in Dick Bavetta.
— Conor Dirks (@ConorDDirks) February 13, 2014
Well, Free throws ain't free... *unless you're Houston pic.twitter.com/bUHE6lCNmd
— Danny (@recordsANDradio) February 13, 2014
Sound coaching: Have Dwight Howard hold John Wall, let Harden work > Hack-a-Dwight https://t.co/MsAAS4jQHh
— Kyle Weidie (@Truth_About_It) February 13, 2014
#Wizards made 27 fewer FT than #Rockets. That's #Wizards' worst differential since a 1982 game against the #Nuggets #WizardsTalk
— CSN Washington (@CSNwashington) February 13, 2014
I would rather have Houston hit a game winning three then that absolute heist by the refs
— Adam McGinnis (@adammcginnis) February 13, 2014
Wizards loss last night made me drink all the alcohol that I should have saved for tonight's loss. I RESPECT THE INSIDIOUSNESS!
— William Stokes (@William_Stokes) February 13, 2014
Rewatching: Wall definitely got held by Dwight, refs missed that. Ariza still held Harden, though, that call was legit.
— Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN) February 13, 2014
COUGH COUGH COUGH DAMMIT COUGH!!!
@MikePradaSBN I mean, I hear u, but that kind of jostling takes place in every situation like that. The flop took it 2 another level, maybe?
— Kyle Weidie (@Truth_About_It) February 13, 2014
That's a hard way to lose a game. Trevor Ariza & James Harden were tangled up. Nobody had an advantage but TA got the foul #wizards
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) February 13, 2014
Washington made 16 3-pointers, 28 assists, 14 steals, 9 turnovers, and lost #Wizards
— Adam McGinnis (@adammcginnis) February 13, 2014
Its as if the refs just pretend to count, as to seem busy... RT @dcsportsbog: Vine is six seconds, right? I dunno https://t.co/1vvwA5BSc1
— Danny (@recordsANDradio) February 13, 2014
#WizardsTwitter deserves better than this #SoWizards crap
— Adam McGinnis (@adammcginnis) February 13, 2014
Thought split Memphis/Houston. 0-2. increase urgency to make a move? Probably. Front office ain't pleased #WizardsTalk #NBA #WizRockets
— J. Michael (@JMichaelCSN) February 13, 2014
#NeverForget pic.twitter.com/ihLSyOBB5p
— Dan Steinberg (@dcsportsbog) February 13, 2014
@MikePradaSBN @Truth_About_It @Broom_Kevin Except Harden held Ariza as well nd then flopped, drawing the foul.
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) February 13, 2014
Look: This is Ariza holding Harden with both hands as the play begins. This is a foul. pic.twitter.com/PXHKI4E0U7
— Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN) February 13, 2014
If you didn't figure it out by now, yes, Mike is the mystery blogger who agreed with Dick Bavetta. Send your your complaints to Brian Williams.
"These guys deserved to win the game. To have it taken from them, that's sad." -Randy Wittman via CSN postgame
— Kyle Weidie (@Truth_About_It) February 13, 2014
...cont. Wittman: "I got more 'my bads' 'my miss' tonight than I've ever seen. To have difference of 30 FTs. It's hard. It's hard."
— Kyle Weidie (@Truth_About_It) February 13, 2014
Even after James Harden gets fined, he's still gonna flop on top of all the rest of his money. #WizRockets #salt
— Conor Dirks (@ConorDDirks) February 13, 2014
I'm not mad though. #WizRockets pic.twitter.com/P6Q5XPvy7r
— Conor Dirks (@ConorDDirks) February 13, 2014
Man, that foul call at the end of the Rockets Wizards game was awful. Seems like Dick Bavetta is more Sauron than Gandalf #WizardsTalk
— Kirk Goldsberry (@kirkgoldsberry) February 13, 2014
Dick Bavetta has been around long enuf to know that clasp Harden put on Trevor-offensive foul…okay i’ll SMH
— Phil Jackson (@PhilJackson11) February 13, 2014
See that Mike? Consider yourself Zen'ed. (Zenned? Zen'd?)
VIDEO/GIF OF THE NIGHT
Give the man his Oscar. (H/T @Truth_About_It)
GAMETHREAD COMMENT OF THE NIGHT
GAMETHREAD ROLLCALL
