Star guard James Harden has sustained a strained tendon in his right foot and is expected to miss one month for the Sixers, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
It’s a tough blow for both the player and the team, as the Sixers have gotten off to a slow start, currently sitting with a 4-5 record after dropping Wednesday’s game to the Wizards. According to Wojnarowski, Harden suffered the foot strain during last night’s loss, with testing revealing the injury today.
A 10-time All-Star and former league MVP, Harden is averaging 22.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 10.0 assists and 1.1 steals on .441/.333/.929 shooting through nine games (36.8 minutes per contest). He’s also turning the ball over at his lowest rate since the 2011/12 campaign.
If Harden returns by Philadelphia’s game on December 5, he’ll have missed 14 games with the injury. As ESPN’s Tim Bontemps notes (via Twitter), it’s a difficult stretch of games for the 76ers, who face the Knicks, Suns, Hawks (twice), Jazz, Bucks and Timberwolves over their next seven contests.
With Harden sidelined, look for Joel Embiid (who has already missed three games, one with a sore knee and the past two with the flu), Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris to increase their shot attempts. Reserve guard De’Anthony Melton, who missed Wednesday’s contest with a sore back, will likely start in Harden’s place.
It will also be an opportunity for players like Shake Milton, Matisse Thybulle and Furkan Korkmaz to carve out potential rotation roles, since Harden is second in the team in minutes played, only trailing Maxey.
Yeowch. Tendon strains suuuuck. I don’t like Harden, but that has to be painful. Small wonder he’s got to sit out; I doubt he can drive when his foot feels that way.
Larden at it again
True, injures only happen to Harden…
Yes, injuries do disproportionately affect fat, out of shape, Lard-filled athletes. This dude has done nothing but constantly be injured the last few years. I’ll say it again. James LARDEN.
Like A.D? Kawhi? John Wall ? Klay? Talking out your knucklehead.
He’s not fat
He lost 50 lbs.
My sincere best wishes for a full recovery. I want him fully healthy when he does his usual playoff shrinking act.
Maxey Month! more touches for the kids will be a good thing.
Maxeys team and Tobey better step up too.
Just what Philly fans want. More opportunities for Shake and Korkmaz.
Melton Maxey Matisse Montrezzl Milton.
More or less in a month we will know if Maxey is the next star or just a streaky shooter
He is somewhere in between those two extremes.
Look like the sixers are done for this year. Embiid, Harden with injuries problems and PJ Tucker the great summer deal with terrible numbers maybe next year. Good luck.
Look like the sixers are done for this year. Embiid, Harden with injuries problems and PJ Tucker the great summer deal with terrible numbers maybe next year. Good luck.
Regular season doesn’t matter only the last month.