The Clippers forward had done everything asked of him in 24 minutes Sunday at Staples Center, shaking off a slow start with a season-high 17 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.
Harrell’s steal and layup in the final seconds of the third quarter sent the Clippers into the final period leading by nine. His dunk after an offensive rebound with 3:39 remaining in the game, punctuated by a scream, extended that lead to 10.
But fouling Harden on his made three-pointer with 29.5 seconds left allowed the Rockets to cut the Clippers’ lead to three, and Harrell crouched on the court with his hands holding his dreadlocks and his head between his knees.