Nets' Harden upgraded a second time, now questionable for Game 5 vs. Bucks
NEW YORK — James Harden has played less than a minute in this second-round series vs. the Bucks because of a hamstring injury.
But on Tuesday morning the Nets upgraded him to doubtful for Game 5 Tuesday night against the Bucks at the Barclays Center. Hours later, they upgraded him from doubtful to questionable, and the expectation is now that Harden will play.
Harden aggravated an injury to his right hamstring in Game 1 of the Nets-Bucks series and has missed virtually all of this series. The Nets have monitored his status, and Harden needed to complete consecutive high-intensity workloads to be cleared by the team’s performance staff. He worked his hamstring through shootaround ahead of Game 5, according to ESPN, and will do the same in pregame warmups before making the final decision to play.
Harden and Kyrie Irving — sprained right ankle — were both feared to be out for the pivotal game in the series after Milwaukee held serve at home and brought the series back to Brooklyn tied two games apiece.
There is now a glimmer of hope that Kevin Durant will at least have one of his two fellow superstars back in the lineup.
“We’re pros and we’ve got to adapt to anything,” Durant said. “And if Kyrie and James are out there, guys will be ready, and if not guys will be ready as well. So that’s just really what it is up here at this level.”
Harden has been the most gifted playmaker on the Nets’ roster, earning MVP consideration before a right hamstring strain sidelined him for 21 straight games near the end of the regular season. He averaged 24.6 points, 11 assists and 8.5 rebounds per game as a member of the Nets this season. His return gives the Nets a better chance at protecting home court against a Bucks team slated to stampede over Brooklyn’s short-handed roster. Protecting home court is all the Nets must do with the series tied at two apiece and two of the final three games to be played at Barclays Center.
