arden didn't have an opening statement so much as a sustained one. He moved the curve by inches in the first quarter — a clean look here, a contested stop there — and let the game come to him.
The first quarter is where it broke open — harden 26' 3pt step back jump shot (5 pts) (+3.0). From that possession on, the curve never had to be rebuilt the same way twice.
By the time he checked out for good, Harden's line read +14.6 — earned, not held.
Key moments