The Philadelphia 76ers have been electric since James Harden's team debut. Harden, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey have dominated the court as the Sixers' newest “Big Three” the last four games. However, Harden didn't come to Philadelphia without a little bit of baggage. The NBA star is dealing with an ongoing hamstring injury that cannot be ignored. With that in mind, is Harden playing his fifth game in a row Saturday night?
Is James Harden playing vs. Heat
Don't waste too much time looking for The Beard on the court Saturday night. According to Sixers beat writer Keith Pompey, the point guard won't record any minutes in the must-watch matchup. He tweeted the news Saturday afternoon, stating that the time off is a part of Harden's scheduled left hamstring management.




#Sixers PG James Harden is out tonight vs. the #Heat, as part of his scheduled left hamstring management.
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) March 5, 2022
That's right, Sixers fans, no need to panic. It's just a scheduled day off, and Harden didn't further injure his hamstring. The precaution is a safe move. Philadelphia has all of the momentum in the world on a five-game winning streak. They should be able to hold their own without Harden's on-court presence, since they need him to be 100% throughout the rest of the season and into the postseason.
Of course, this isn't the most ideal game to sit one of the top three contributors on the team. The Miami Heat are about as hot as it gets, with a record of 42-22 and the top spot in the East. If the Sixers beat Miami with Harden sidelined, it will be a huge message to the rest of the NBA.