James Harden: Real reason REVEALED behind Rockets star's fourth-quarter exit vs Utah Jazz
JAMES HARDEN has revealed the real reason behind his fourth-quarter exit from the Houston Rockets' 100-89 loss to the Utah Jazz.
The Rockets' star guard sat out seven games last January because of a Grade 2 hamstring injury in his left leg.
And Harden, last season's Most Valuable Player, has admitted he is struggling with a tight left hamstring again.
However, the injury is unlikely to keep him out for long. Harden says the problem was "nothing close to last year” and that he is "just being cautious”.
Harden, who scored 29 points and added seven assists, five rebounds and a steal in 32 minutes before leaving with 5:19 left, will have the hamstring re-evaluated on Thursday.
Harden also downplayed the Rockets' 1-3 start to the season after Wednesday's loss on their home court.
"It's a process. Obviously, last year was the same way. We kind of built up to being great. It's going to be the same thing this year," he said.
In his MVP season, Harden averaged 28.3 points, 9.7 assists and 6.7 rebounds in 37.3 minutes per game.
Going into Wednesday night, he had career numbers of 23.0 points, 6.1 assists and 4.3 rebounds in 33.8 minutes per game covering 690 games in 10 seasons.
Harden was the third overall pick of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2009 draft.
NBA results (Weds 24)
ATLANTA 111 Dallas 104
Brooklyn 102 CLEVELAND 86
MIAMI 110 New York 87
TORONTO 112 Minnesota 105
CHICAGO 112 Charlotte 110
Utah 100 HOUSTON 89
Indiana 116 SAN ANTONIO 96
MILWAUKEE 123 Philadelphia 108
LA Lakers 131 PHOENIX 113
SACRAMENTO 97 Memphis 92
GOLDEN STATE 144 Washington 122