The Houston Rockets had a chance to reunite with James Harden during free agency in July. But instead of welcoming the 10-time All-Star back, coach Ime Udoka opted to sign Fred VanVleet.

Four months later, Harden ended Houston’s six-game win streak as the Rockets sustained a 106-100 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers inside L.A.’s Crypto.com Arena.

With the game tied at 100 with 22.0 seconds left, Harden nailed an And-1 3-point field goal over the top of Jae’Sean Tate. He finished the game with 24 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

“We put in a unit to switch everything,” Udoka said. “We made him take a tough shot. But obviously, we did not want to foul. We wanted to contest, especially a three. But worst-case scenario, he made it and got fouled. It put the game somewhat out of reach.”

To many, a summer reunion between the Rockets and Harden made sense at the time. Houston wanted a veteran talent at the guard position, while the league’s former MVP wanted to go to a place he considered “home.”

A source told InsidetheRockets.com at SI that Houston and Harden had “interest” in a homecoming this summer. But plans shifted once Udoka took over as coach. The information coincided with The Athletic’s report that Houston decided to “pass on another Harden chapter.”

Udoka later revealed that he had nothing personal against Harden but felt VanVleet was a “better fit.”

The decision to sign VanVleet over Harden has paid off 10 games into the start of the 2023-24 season for the Rockets. But Friday night, Harden displayed flashes of the player who used to hit game-winning jump-shots for the same franchise from 2012-2021.