Houston Rockets guard James Harden was unable to take part in the team's impressive win over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday due to a ervical strain. It appears he was even feeling the effects outside of the basketball court.

Harden suffered the injury during practice last week. In an interview with Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, Harden gave some insight on the severity of his neck issue:

“I wasn't really able to move my neck,” Harden said. “It affected me, not just basketball, but day-to-day in life, walking around. It was frustrating. We got a big-time win. Things went well.

This is certainly not the most encouraging update for the Rockets. James Harden has largely carried the load for the Rockets all season long and is putting up MVP-caliber numbers because of it. The prospect of him having to deal with a lingering neck injury is hardly beneficial for their chances down the final stretch of the season.

Despite his absence, the Rockets still managed to secure an impressive victory against the reigning champs. Their emergence should help alleviate the workload from Harden's shoulders moving forward.

Fortunately, the injury is not deemed to be too serious at the moment since Harden was able to take part in their latest game versus the Atlanta Hawks. Of course, he has never been one to sit out a game with a minor injury.

Although Houston will likely continue to take a cautious approach with his recovery, it is safe to say he will play through the pain.