The Brooklyn Nets are expected to have James Harden back for their nationally televised showdown with the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday.

The superstar scorer missed Brooklyn's wild last-second loss to the Washington Wizards on Sunday due to a thigh contusion. However, Harden was not listed on the team's latest injury report, according to Marc Stein of the New York Times.

The Nets fell 149-146 at the Capitol One Arena after back-to-back three-pointers from Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook in the final 10 seconds delivered an improbable victory for the struggling Wizards.

Even though Harden sat out the affair, the box score epitomized the issues facing the high-powered Nets since acquiring the All-Star from the Houston Rockets. In fact, as StatMuse pointed out, the Nets have both the best offensive rating and worst defensive rating in NBA history with the 2018 MVP.

The Nets are 6-2 with Harden, who is averaging 24.3 points, 11.8 assists and 7.8 rebounds per game for Steve Nash's team. At 13-9, Brooklyn is currently occupying the no. 2 spot in the Eastern Conference standings.

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Even with Kevin Durant (30.9 PPG) and Kyrie Irving (27.6 PPG), Harden should provide some essential firepower against a red-hot Clippers club. L.A. has won 10 of 11 games, including a 129-115 drubbing of the New York Knicks on Sunday at Madison Square Garden.

Entering Monday's NBA action, the Clippers rank first in the NBA in offensive rating (118.74) and net rating (7.68).

At 16-5, Tyronn Lue's group has the best record in the league, led by stellar seasons from Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Leonard is averaging 25.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.8 steals per game in 2020-21, while George is putting up 23.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.4 dimes, and 1.2 steals per contest.

The Nets will have a tall task ahead of them on Tuesday, but with their star trio intact, they will be hopeful a victory is in the cards.