NBA
Harden Injured In 4th Quarter
Houston Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni says that James Harden left last night’s game with tightness in his hamstring. It’s unclear what his status is moving forward. He’ll be re-evaluated on Thursday.
Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni said James Harden left due to tightness in his hamstring. D'Antoni is not certain about the severity. Harden will be re-evaluated Thursday.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) October 25, 2018
In last night’s Houston Rockets matchup against the Utah Jazz, Harden left the fourth quarter with an apparent injury. Here is the latest on the status on the Houston all-star.
The NBA’s reigning Most Valuable Player eventually went to the locker room after talking with trainers during a break in the action for a few minutes.
Harden left the floor with almost five minutes left in the fourth quarter. He had 29 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds before his departure. He shot 10- 19 from the floor and was red hot from three-point range. Also, he shot 3-4 from behind the three point line.
It’s still unclear how the injury occurred. The team has yet to provide any further details. After his re-evaluation Thursday, we should get more information on his status.
Once Harden went out of the game, the Jazz regained control. Utah cruised to the victory, beating the Rockets 100-89. After the game, he had this to say:
“Just felt tightness in my left hamstring. We’ll see how it feels tomorrow.” Hamstring issues are not new the all-star guard. Harden missed seven games last season with a Grade 2 hamstring strain. But he said this was not the same type of injury as the last one.
”It’s nothing serious. Nothing serious,” he said after Wednesday’s loss. ”It’s not close to last year. Just being cautious.”
Harden on the hammy. pic.twitter.com/Nzn4ZpVF3P
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) October 25, 2018
D’Antoni’s Thoughts
D’Antoni said Harden, who won his first MVP award last season, felt the tightness early in the game. He also said when he said it had returned after a basket in the fourth quarter, D’Antoni decided to send him to the locker room.
“When he made that one drive he felt it again,” D’Antoni said after last night’s game. ”He’ll be re-evaluated … it’s a hamstring but I don’t know what type (of injury). We’ll find out about it tomorrow.”
When asked if he thought the injury was serious, D’Antoni said he had “no idea.”
Updated Injury Report
Harden is getting an MRI today. D’Antoni says “it’s probably closer to a strain than just tightness.”
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) October 25, 2018
At Thursday’s practice, D’Antoni told reporters that Harden will not practice with the team. He is considering him “very doubtful” for Friday’s home game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Also, D’Antoni added that their reigning MVP is getting an MRI today and that his injury is “probably closer to a strain than just tightness.”
Stay tuned for more updates.
Here’s an update from The Atlantic’s Senior lead NBA Insider Shams Charania
Houston Rockets star James Harden has suffered a Grade 1-plus left hamstring strain and will be re-evaluated next week.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 25, 2018
Photo Credit
James DeVellis via Flickr
