James Harden's Official Status For 76ers-Raptors Game
On Saturday evening, the Philadelphia 76ers will play their second game of the regular season against the Toronto Raptors (on the road in Canada).
They lost their first game against the Milwaukee Bucks by a score of 118-117 on Thursday in Wisconsin.
For Saturday's game, 2018 MVP James Harden has been ruled out (he was also out for Thursday's loss).
NBA's official injury report
James Harden's Status
Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium also added more details (on October 25).
Via Charania on October 25: "James Harden returned to Philadelphia on Tuesday night with his bags packed to join team on the road for Thursday vs. Bucks and Saturday vs. Raptors, but the 76ers have now asked him not to travel with the team, sources said."
Harden is coming off another fantastic year where he averaged 21.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 10.7 assists and 1.2 steals per contest while shooting 44.1% from the field and 38.5% from the three-point range in 58 games.
The 76ers were the third seed in the Eastern Conference and swept the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
However, they lost to the Boston Celtics in the second round (in seven games).
Meanwhile, the Raptors are 1-1, and coming off a 104-103 loss to the Chicago Bulls in overtime on Friday night at the United Center (Scottie Barnes had 22 points, ten rebounds and ten assists).
Last season, they were the ninth seed in the Eastern Conference but lost to the Bulls in the play-in tournament, so they missed the NBA playoffs.
