James Harden Reportedly Could Return from Hamstring Injury for Nets vs. Spurs

Brooklyn Nets star James Harden is "getting close" to a return from his hamstring injury, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, who reported Monday that Harden could be back on the court as early as Wednesday. 

The Nets host the San Antonio Spurs at 8 p.m. ET that day. 

Harden has missed 17 games with the injury so far. Even if he returns Wednesday, he will bring that total up to 19.

His hamstring issues began at the end of March, when he dealt with tightness in the muscle, but he only missed two games initially. He lasted four minutes in his return on April 5 and was sidelined, but on April 20 it was announced he would be out indefinitely.

Following his trade from the Houston Rockets, the 31-year-old was a major piece of the Nets lineup alongside Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, though the other pieces of the trio were also limited because of injuries and personal reasons through the start of the year.

He is averaging 25.4 points on 46.7 percent shooting with 11.0 assists and 8.7 rebounds per game for Brooklyn.

If Durant and Irving can stay healthy in Harden's absence, the Nets should be just fine. They are currently 44-24 this season, good for second place in the Eastern Conference.