What happened: James Harden sank a contested 3-pointer as the first-half clock expired. The shot beat the halftime buzzer to close out the second quarter.

Why it matters: Buzzer-beating conversions before the intermission provide a scoring swing heading into the second half. Harden remains tasked with creating perimeter offense in late-clock scenarios.

What to watch: Both sides head to the locker room before resuming play in the third quarter.