The NBA has fined Houston Rockets shooting guard James Harden $5,000 for violating the NBA's anti-flopping policy for a second time this season, USA Today Sports reported on Monday.
The discerning play occurred with four minutes remaining in the Rockets' 107-94 loss to the L.A. Clippers on Saturday night. Harden came down with an offensive rebound on his own miss but was defended quickly by Clippers forward Blake Griffin, at which point high-scoring guard flung himself to the ground after the slightest of bumps from Griffin, and drawing a foul.
Harden is averaging 24.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists a game for the 4-3 Rockets. He led the NBA in free throws last season and is third to start this season.
The Rockets are hopeful the combination of Harden, Dwight Howard, Chandler Parsons and Jeremy Lin will propel to the team in contention for a Western Conference crown this season. Harden was instrumental as the third wheel to Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook while with Oklahoma City in leading the Thunder to the 2012 NBA Finals 2012 against LeBron James and the Miami Heat.
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