Philadelphia 76ers all-star James Harden will miss a month of action due to a right foot tendon strain.
The former MVP injured his foot during Philadelphia’s 121-111 loss to the Washington Wizards on Wednesday after playing 35 minutes, according to ESPN.
Senior NBA Insider, Adrian Wojnarowski, announced the news of Harden’s injury Thursday on Twitter.
ESPN Sources: Philadelphia 76ers star James Harden has suffered right foot tendon strain and is expected to miss a month. pic.twitter.com/LHEIucfbFj
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 3, 2022
Before getting injured, Harden was averaging 22.0 points, 10.0 assists, and 7.0 rebounds per game, according to Basketball Reference.
Philadelphia will likely turn to five-time All-Star, Joel Embiid, and to 21-year-old guard, Tyrese Maxey, to carry their offense now until Harden returns. Both Embiid and Maxey are averaging over 20 points-per-game this season, according to NBA.com. (RELATED: ESPN Analyst Says Star-Studded Squad Is The ‘Most Unlikable Team’ In NBA History. Is He Right?)
With championship winning head coach Doc Rivers leading the way for Philadelphia, it would be very surprising if the 76ers were to crumble with Harden out of the lineup. Their roster being filled with battle-tested veterans like Tobias Harris, P.J. Tucker, Montrezl Harrell, Danuel House Jr. and others, will likely keep Philadelphia in the thick of things while Harden regains his strength.
The 4-5 76ers will need all the help they can get from their bench players to turn their season around. Considering how their roster is currently structured, Philadelphia should be able to withstand Harden being out for weeks.