News of Celtics’ unfortunate injury to Eastern Conference rival originally appeared on The Sporting News. Click here to add Sports News as your go-to source.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden suffered a broken right thumb during Tuesday night’s game against the New York Knicks, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports.
The news is a heavy blow to Cleveland, which has been moving forward since Harden’s arrival at the trade deadline, although it’s unclear how much time the Beard will miss.
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Harden’s tenure with the Cavaliers was short-lived, but his impact was profound. Cleveland acquired the 11-time All-Star from the Los Angeles Clippers in a Feb. 4 trade that sent Darius Garland to Los Angeles.
In seven games with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Harden averaged 18.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 8.0 assists. He shot 49.4% from the field and 48.8% from three-point range, providing stable organization and efficient scoring while adapting to his new teammates.
The Cavaliers responded well to the addition, going 6-1 in those seven games (the only loss was against Oklahoma City on February 22). Harden’s most recent performance included 20 points and nine assists in a win over the Thunder, followed by 20 points (8-for-18 shooting, including 4-for-7 from three-point range) and four assists in a 109-94 victory over the Knicks.
Cleveland is currently 37-22 and in a strong position atop the Eastern Conference standings. Head coach Kenny Atkinson noted that Harden brings “new confidence” to the offense.
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