According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, James Harden plans to return from his hamstring injury tonight. The Brooklyn Nets will take on the San Antonio Spurs and if Harden plays it will be after missing about a month. His injury was reaggravated after trying to come back too soon in mid-April.
If all goes well in warmups, the Beard should be suiting up tonight for some playing time.
Nets star James Harden plans to play tonight vs. Spurs, assuming pregame warmups go smoothly, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Harden is on the cusp of his return after missing over one month with a hamstring strain.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 12, 2021
Brooklyn currently sits second in the Eastern Conference standings, two games behind Philadelphia. With the season wrapping up, it isn’t likely the Nets will take control of the top seed, but getting Harden back ahead of the Playoffs is the most important thing for the franchise right now.
In 34 games for the Nets, Harden has averaged 25.4 points per game, 11.0 assists, and 8.7 rebounds. He has turned into a new type of player and accepted his role on the stacked Nets roster. While he can take over games still, he doesn’t have to with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant on the court with him.
The playoffs are right around the corner and the Nets are favorites to take the East if they can stay healthy. Philadelphia looks great as well behind the play of Joel Embiid. It seems that they are going the opposite way of the Celtics currently who are in free fall with losses and injuries. If Brooklyn comes into the Playoffs at full strength they are going to be a big problem for the East.
