Sixers

Status Update: James Harden OUT Tonight with Trade Deadline-itis

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Feb 8th, 2022 · 12:03 PM EST

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News:

James Harden says he’s not playing tonight vs. Celtics. This will be the third straight game he’s missed due to hamstring tightness.

— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) February 8, 2022

“Hamstring tightness.” Yeah, I bet. More like trade deadline-itis. Severe acute possibly-dealt-to-the-Sixers syndrome, for which there is no cure.

The Nets have lost eight in a row and Harden hasn’t played since last Wednesday, when he scored four points in a double-digit road loss to the powerhouse Sacramento Kings. In January, he finished with 24/8/11 over the course of 13 games in which Brooklyn went 6-7. He’s been in and out of the lineup. Same for Kyrie. And of course Kevin Durant is injured.

Does this look like a man who wants to play for the Nets? –

Harden effort thread because I watched the film back and, my god, it's pathetic.

Clip 1: just blatantly not caring. pic.twitter.com/NbCccj2Ntt

— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) February 3, 2022

There’s a lot of Harden smoke out there. Is there fire? We’ll find out soon! If he’s dealt Thursday, he’ll have played his last Nets game already, since their next scheduled matchup doesn’t come until after the deadline.

Mike Missanelli asked Joel Embiid how he feels, in general, about James Harden.

The big man's response amid swirling rumors: pic.twitter.com/89PwymtUcq

— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) February 7, 2022

UPDATE:

I'm officially on Harden Watch now (well, I really was already, like everyone else!). Reports from shootaround were that he looked good and like himself. And now he's out again? That's got my eyebrows raised.

— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) February 8, 2022