Houston Rockets guard James Harden will play against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday after missing Saturday’s contest against the Golden State Warriors with a cervical strain. Head coach Mike D’Antoni listed him among the starters.
The Rockets did surprisingly well in Harden’s short absence, defeating the Warriors on the road 118-112. Chris Paul led the charge with 23 points and 17 assists but will likely see his productivity normalize with his running mate back in action.
Although Harden will play, he is not entirely symptom free. At Rockets shootaround this morning, he explained how painful the neck injury has been, and that he has required round-the-clock treatment to get where he is now.
Harden’s long-term health is among Houston’s primary concerns as it makes its playoff push. Fortunately, the 20-40 Hawks should not register as a threat that requires him to play extended minutes, though a win is not a given. Harden would not be playing if he was not ready.
