The James Harden soap opera in Houston now comes with a canceled season opener and a $50,000 fine for the leagues leading scorer.

Houstons opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night was scrapped after coronavirus cases and Hardens violation of the NBAs COVID-19 protocols left the Rockets without the league-mandated eight players available to start a game.

It was a dispiriting blow to the NBA on just the second night of an uncertain season launching with the pandemic still raging.

The NBA announced the postponement in a release that said three Rockets players had returned tests that were either positive or inconclusive and that four other players were quarantined because of contract tracing.

The release also said that Harden was unavailable for the game because of a violation of health and safety protocols after video of the disgruntled star surfaced on social media where he was without a mask at a crowded party in a private event space Monday night.

The league later announced the fine for Harden, saying the protocols prohibit attending indoor social gatherings of 15 or more people or entering bars, lounges, clubs or similar establishments.