Clippers’ James Harden Dealing With Shoulder Injury

Los Angeles Clippers star James Harden is dealing with a left shoulder injury. The former NBA MVP is being listed as questionable to face the Chicago Bulls. 

The LA Clippers report that Kawhi Leonard (thoracic spasms) and James Harden (left shoulder strain) are questionable for tomorrow at Chicago

Paul George is unlisted. Bulls are in Indiana tonight.

— Law Murray 🧭 (@LawMurrayTheNU) March 13, 2024

Harden hasn’t missed a game with the Clippers this season. The 10-time All-Star is averaging 17.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.9 blocks while shooting 44.2% from the field, 40.3% from beyond the arc and 88.2% from the free-throw line. 

The Clippers blew a 22-point lead to the Minnesota Timberwolves last night (3/12) and lost by eight points. Harden finished with 12 points, seven assists and four turnovers. 

“My turnovers weren’t forced by anybody else,” Harden told NBA reporters after the game. “They were all on me. So that’s something that I can control, that I can get better at. And I will.”

The Clippers are 41-23 on the season. They are in fourth place in the Western Conference standings.

However, LAC is only 5-6 since the All-Star break. 

“Runs are a part of the game,” Harden said. “I think it’s just a matter of just getting good shots and not turning the basketball over and giving your defense the opportunity to get back and set up. Every game is important to us.”

It will be fascinating to see how far the Clippers go in the 2024 playoffs. The franchise has never reached the NBA Finals. 

According to NBA insider Howard Beck of The Ringer, the Clippers are expected to go all out to keep Harden and Paul George regardless of how they fare in the 2024 postseason.

George can become an unrestricted free agent this summer if he declines his 2024-25 player option, while Harden will become a free agent since he’s in the final year of his contract. 

The Clippers signed Kawhi Leonard to a three-year, $149 million extension in January. They are moving into a new $2 billion arena in Inglewood next season.