Rockets guards James Harden and Iman Shumpert will be listed as questionable Monday night against the Atlanta Hawks. Harden has been dealing with a cervical strain and Shumpert missed Houston’s last two games with right knee soreness.
Harden missed Saturday night’s game against the Golden State Warriors with the same cervical strain. He’s been noticeably banged up since Feb. 9 when he strained his shoulder again the Oklahoma City Thunder. Since that night, he’s shot 20-62 (33.2 percent) from three-point range and just hasn’t been right.
“I was getting treatment after the game and all day yesterday,” Harden said on February 11th after Houston defeated the Mavericks. “I couldn’t get the same lift that I usually have on my shot, but that’s no excuse.”
The burden for Houston’s offense will fall squarely on Chris Paul’s shoulders who has played very well since returning from injury in late January. Paul had 23 points, 17 assists, five rebounds and two steals on 56.9 percent true shooting in Harden’s absence Saturday night.
The Rockets are 2-2 this season without Harden.
