Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden is expected to be sidelined for a month after incurring a tendon strain on his right foot, sources revealed on Friday.
Harden suffered the strain during the 76ers’ 121-111 loss to the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night and underwent a medical assessment on Thursday when the extent of the injury was determined.
A 10-time NBA All-Star, Harden’s absence will be felt by the 76ers as they go into Friday’s home game against the New York Knicks. Harden has produced a strong performance so far this season, averaging 22 points, seven rebounds, and 10 assists in nine games.
Filling the void left behind by Harden is third-year guard Tyrese Maxey, who has emerged as a rising star by racking up a career-high scoring average of 24.2 points per game this season, which includes shooting 51% from the field and 46.8% from three-pointers attempts.
Currently, Philadelphia sits in eighth place on the Eastern Conference standings, with a record of 4-5. Following the Knicks game, the 76ers are set to face the Phoenix Suns, the Atlanta Hawks, the Utah Jazz, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Minnesota Timberwolves while Harden remains sidelined.
