Breaking News: The 34-year-old shooting guard elaborates on why he tried to block Kawhi Leonard.

Kawhi Leonard and James Harden became a viral sensation during Wednesday night’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers, but not for the typical reasons seen in basketball games.

With the Clippers holding a 21-point lead in the third quarter, Harden unexpectedly tried to contest Leonard’s wide-open three-point shot. It was an unusual and amusing moment for NBA fans, and Harden later explained that he did it to make Leonard laugh and inject some excitement into a Clippers team that had been struggling.

James Harden said he was trying to lighten the mood and get the Clippers out of the fog they’ve been in lately when asked about how he closed out on a Kawhi 3-point attempt when they were up by 21. pic.twitter.com/Y9XOBeXRos

— Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) March 21, 2024

“Gotta bring some excitement to this team,” Harden quipped. “I think these last few weeks have been a fog for us, I think every team goes through it.

I think me just trying to create a good energy, create a great vibe for this team, it would have been better if he made the shot.

Give us something to laugh about, some excitement.” While Harden’s attempt to lighten the mood worked, it’s a risky strategy, especially for a team like the Clippers that has recently lost leads in several games. Ultimately, maintaining focus and closing out games should take precedence over on-court antics.