Brooklyn Nets star James Harden has spoken multiple times about wanting less of an offensive burden and how that was one of the factors driving his demand for a trade from the Houston Rockets.
Well, Wednesday night could be a bit of a throwback.
Harden will be the lone Nets superstar available for the team's showdown with the Indiana Pacers, as Kyrie Irving was ruled out with right groin soreness.
Kevin Durant has yet to return from his hamstring ailment, and Blake Griffin is slowly ramping his activity back up in advance of his Nets debut. Both are inactive for the time being.
Update to the Status Report for tonight's game at Indiana:
Irving (right groin soreness) – OUT https://t.co/nqgWCwzsdK
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) March 17, 2021
This is not the first time Harden has been without Irving or Durant. In fact, he spearheaded one of Brooklyn's biggest comebacks of the season in a win over the Phoenix Suns last month.
Article Continues BelowThe Suns dominated the first half, scoring 75 points and taking a 20-point lead into the break. But Harden and the Nets came storming back in the second half, outscoring the Suns by 16 points in the final period. Harden finished the contest with 38 points, 11 assists, and seven rebounds on 14-for-22 shooting from the field. Can “The Beard” have a similar performance against Domantas Sabonis and the Pacers?
Harden has not been the most efficient scorer since the start of the second half. He is 1-for-19 from beyond the arc since the All-Star break. However, the 31-year-old is coming off consecutive triple-doubles in wins over the Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks, respectively.
But without Irving on the floor, Harden will have to be a more efficient scorer if the Nets hope to run their winning streak to six games.