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NEW YORK – Brooklyn Nets All-Star goalie James Harden was ruled out of Thursday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets for hamstring strain, while the team’s latest acquisition – center LaMarcus Aldridge – is available to debut in Brooklyn.
Harden came out early in Wednesday’s 120-108 win over the Houston Rockets. Subsequently, coach Steve Nash said Harden, who missed the entire fourth quarter, would be reassessed Thursday morning. Nash said he doesn’t think the injury will hold Harden in the long run.
Meanwhile, Aldridge is available for the first time since agreeing to sign with Brooklyn on Saturday. Nash said Aldridge will have a short build-up period so the team can assess his fitness and safely fit him into the roster.
It will be the first time Aldridge has played since early March, when the San Antonio Spurs announced the center would be sidelined while they work to find him another team.
Aldridge said he believes he can provide rim protection and help space the ground with his 3-point shot in Brooklyn, adding that he hopes to win the starting center position.
The addition of Aldridge should help the already shorthanded Nets. Brooklyn will be without Blake Griffin – who sits the Nets’ second straight night for injury maintenance – and Kevin Durant, who is still rehabilitating a hamstring strain that has sidelined him since mid -February.
Landry Shamet is also available on Thursday after missing the last week and a half with a sprained ankle.
The Nets hope to have a full and healthy roster in the coming weeks, which will give them plenty of time to build up some field chemistry ahead of the playoffs. Nets’ Big Three Durant, Harden and Kyrie Irving have only played three games together this season, and Durant was already injured when the team made their buyout additions.
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