Overview
- An X-ray revealed a non-displaced fracture in Harden’s right thumb suffered against the Knicks, and he said surgery was never an option because it would mean too much time out.
- Before suiting up Sunday, he tested whether he could dribble at the NBPA gym in Manhattan, then logged 29 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in 36 minutes against the Nets.
- Head coach Kenny Atkinson attributed some of Harden’s five turnovers and occasional deferrals to the thumb, saying he “played handicapped” but still impacted the win.
- Cleveland hosts the Pistons on Tuesday, then gets four days off before a home back-to-back against the Celtics and 76ers as the team monitors his recovery.
- Around the Central Division: Detroit’s Jalen Duren continued a breakout with a 33-point, 16-rebound outing as Ausar Thompson drives the club’s defense, and the Bulls ended an 11-game skid by beating the Bucks 120-97.