The beard was back. And he was talented.
After five weeks, James Harden finally returned to the court and made his comeback victorious. He led the Nets for 128–116 runs at Barclays Center before 1,773.
In his first action since 5 April, Harden had 18 points, 11 assists and seven rebellions. He missed 18 straight games with a straight hamstring, but it seemed like he never lost.
“This is the longest time in my career so far. This is disappointing, ”Harden said in an on-court TV interview. “Last month I just think about how much I cherish the game.”
Landry Shamet had a team-high 21 points to lead the eight nets in double figures. He shot 60.8 percent with Hardik’s impact on the apparent offense.
By the time Harden left 1:12, the Nets had a good game in their hands. He played just 26 minutes and is being treated with kid gloves, but just putting him back on the floor was a big lift for the Nets.
“He will be on a one-minute ban. We will monitor it and make sure that we try to minimize the risk as much as possible, because he will be back in the game,” coach Steve Nash said. “But The plan is the same as kevin’s [Durant] Returned.”
Brooklyn improved to 28-7 when Hardik plays this season, and is just 11-11 when he doesn’t. He underscores his importance for the playoffs – for the second seed in the Eastern Conference with the Nets leading 1 ½ games ahead of third-seeded Milwaukee in the Chase.
“James just wants to play.” He wants to regain his rhythm and prepare for the playoffs. “We can go either way for us. We support him that he has been cleared to play and wants to play.
“His rhythm and his confidence are important in finding and getting back into the game, and it is difficult to do without playing time. You take these risks, and you take a deep breath. He has finished all the work and is cleared. He did his high-intensity loads and workouts and responded. I’m smarter than people say [is] Is safe. “
Brooklyn (46-24) suffered its worst four-game loss of the season with a three-game winning streak. The Nets had a Wednesday win without Kyrie Irving, who sustained a facial contusion Tuesday night in Chicago.
No problem.
Nothing was being done to ruin Harden’s return.
Trailing by a defensive performance in the first quarter, Brooklyn led 35-20 on the Shemut 3-pointer, snapping his 11 straight missed straps from deep stretching until the second quarter of the May 4 loss at Milwaukee.
The Nets’ ball movement was impressive, with 10 assists in 65.2 percent shooting. Meanwhile, the disgruntled-looking Spurs did not have a single assist.
Mike James – whose second and final 10-day contract is about to expire – continued to state his case to be put through the playoffs. He had nine first-quarter points to help Brooklyn gain a 15-point lead, and gave way to Harden.
The Nets’ MVP candidate checked in with 8:06 and went to a standing ovation in the second quarter. And after seeing the lead cut to 41–40, Harden helped the Nets recapture and opened it back to 57–51 at the time of the break.
Harden made a move on Devin Vassell – nearly sending the San Antonio rogue backwards while stumbling back – drilling a stepback 3-pointer and earning a foul to boot on Vassell’s pointless attempt at a recovery.
Brooklyn led 96–81 after three, with the only downside being Jeff Green taking a nasty spill at baseline at the end of the quarter, with Ginger running in favor of his ankle. But he checked back in and saw the lead swell on 19 in the fourth.
The defense smoked repeatedly, with Nick Claxton (18 points) actually over-taking to take three shots in possession of a Spurs. And it came against a Spurs (33-36) team that lit up the Bucks for 146 points in their last game on Monday.
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