Harden out with hamstring injury
Rockets star James Harden will miss at least two weeks with a left hamstring strain.
Isaiah Thomas is back on the court doing what he does best.
The All-Star point guard made his long-awaited debut with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night, his first action since re-injuring his right hip on May 19 in the Eastern Conference finals.
With the crowd stirring, Thomas sat at the scorer’s table before checking in to a loud ovation with 4:33 left in the first quarter of the Cavs’ game with the Portland Trail Blazers.
It didn’t take long for the 5-foot-9 Thomas to get involved in the action as he quickly picked up an assist on a pass to Jae Crowder, who came along with him from Boston in a blockbuster trade last summer.
Wearing his familiar headband and No. 3, the playmaker missed his first shot and got fouled on a drive to the basket. Moments later, Thomas dropped a 14-foot pull-up jumper to pull the Cavs within 28-25.
Then, Thomas drove the lane and scooped in a lefthanded layup while being fouled, the type of play he perfected in Boston. As he picked himself off the floor, Thomas smiled as Cleveland fans cheered a play they hope to see many more times.
Thomas missed the Cavs’ first 36 games while recovering from a serious hip injury that knocked him out of last season’s playoffs against Cleveland. Thomas was traded to the Cavs during the offseason in the blockbuster swap for Kyrie Irving. He’ll initially come off the bench for the Cavs, but could be starting as early as this weekend.
The Cavs are at Orlando on Saturday.
Coach Tyronn Lue said Thomas’ minutes will be restricted as he works himself back into playing shape.
Thomas has already been ruled out for Wednesday’s game at Boston, where fans will undoubtedly welcome him warmly. Thomas carried the Celtics last year, playing with a heavy heart following the death of his younger sister.
James Harden out at least 2 weeks with hamstring injury
Rockets star James Harden will miss at least two weeks with a left hamstring strain.
The team announced Monday that the NBA’s leading scorer has a grade 2 strain and will be reevaluated in two weeks.
Harden was injured on a missed layup late in the fourth quarter of Houston’s 148-142 double-overtime win against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night. He said after the game that he didn’t think the injury was serious, but the guard was walking with a pronounced limp.
The Rockets have the second-best record in the Western Conference behind Golden State at 26-9, and Harden leads the NBA with his scoring average of 32.3 points per game. He also is averaging 9.1 assists, ranking third in the league.
Lakers’ Ball, Lopez return to practice
Los Angeles Lakers guard Lonzo Ball and center Brook Lopez have been cleared to return to practice after recent injury absences.
Ball and Lopez are both questionable for the Lakers’ next game against Oklahoma City on Wednesday.
Ball has been out with a sprained left shoulder since Dec. 23, missing five consecutive games. The rookie No. 2 overall draft pick is averaging 10.0 points, 7.1 assists and 6.9 rebounds per game.
Lopez has missed eight games since spraining his right ankle Dec. 18. The veteran big man is averaging 12.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game in his first season with Los Angeles.
The Lakers (11-25) have lost seven straight games to fall back into last place in the Western Conference standings.