The Cleveland Cavaliers suffered a disappointing 107-97 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Thursday, falling into a 2-0 series hole—and all eyes are now on James Harden after another tough postseason performance in Game 2.

The veteran guard managed just 10 points and never seemed to find his rhythm offensively. As Cleveland struggled to build momentum during critical stretches, Harden quickly became a lightning rod for criticism across social media.

Much of the backlash centered on a single play that went viral after the final buzzer. With the Cavaliers fighting to stay within striking distance, Harden found himself isolated against Cade Cunningham on a fast break, with a clear path to the basket. Instead of attacking aggressively, he hesitated, then lost the ball to Ron Holland in the paint. What looked like a promising scoring chance turned into a costly turnover.

Fans were ruthless in their reactions. One posted: "James Harden might actually be washed." Another wrote: "These supposedly intelligent front office guys keep falling for the Harden promise only to be let down when it matters." A third added: "Definition of a black hole tonight—every time he was in or touched the ball, the Cavs went down in points. And on defense, it's pretty much 5 v 4 with him on the court. He needs to come off the bench."

Harden's struggles went far beyond his low point total. He shot just 23% from the field and missed all four of his three-point attempts. The second half was especially concerning: he scored only two points after halftime and finished the night with four turnovers, as the game remained competitive deep into the fourth quarter.

For a player once known for his explosive scoring and playmaking, this performance raises serious questions about his ability to deliver in high-pressure playoff moments.