James Harden's Absence From Sixers Opener Investigated By NBA

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Boston Celtics v Philadelphia 76ers - Game Four
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 07: James Harden #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the Boston Celtics during the third quarter in game four of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center on May 07, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

The league is looking into whether Harden's absence was "valid" under new rules.

The Sixers' decision to leave James Harden as a healthy scratch for the first two games of the NBA season will be investigated by the league. "We are looking into the facts around James Harden's availability tonight to determine whether an approved reason exists for his lack of participation," a league spokesperson told ESPN. New rules implemented for this season limit the number of games "star players" can miss. Furthermore, the rules stringently outline the reasons why a player of Harden's caliber can miss games.

Harden returned to the Sixers practice facility earlier this week after a ten-day absence for a "personal matter". Head coach Nick Nurse told reporters that Harden would miss the team's two-game season-opening road trip against Milwaukee and Toronto so he could "ramp up" to being game-ready. However, things were then complicated by the fact that Harden attempted to board the team's flight to Wisconsin. He was stopped by security at a private airfield and told he did not have authorization to board the flight.

Read More: Michael Rubin Says James Harden Saga Wouldn’t Have Happened If He Was Still Sixers Owner

Harden-less Sixers Fall To Milwaukee

However, the Sixers will be kicking themselves after their Harden-less opener in Milwaukee. Despite four players surpassing 20 points on the night, the team couldn't overcome the 62 points put up by the Lillard-Giannis tandem. The game ended with a 118-117 win for the hosts. Tyrese Maxey led the team with 31 points while reigning MVP Joel Embiid had 24. Meanwhile, Tobias Harris added and Kelly Oubre Jr. put up 27 off the bench.

Many Sixers fans will argue that the Bucks escaped with the win. The Dame-Giannis tandem was really the only thing that Milwaukee had going for them on opening night. Only two other Bucks, Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis, reached double-digit points. However, the game showed the potency of what the newly formed partnership could achieve. Despite this, the Sixers will look to regroup and bounce back against Toronto. Harden is expected to make his season debut against the Blazers this weekend.

Read More: Clippers “Pause” James Harden Trade Push, May Revisit Talks Later

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About The Author
Ben Mock
Benjamin Mock (they/them) is a sports and culture writer working out of Philadelphia. Previously writing for the likes of Fixture, Dexerto, Fragster, and Jaxon, Ben has dedicated themselves to engaging and accessible articles about sports, esports, and internet culture. With a love for the weirder stories, you never quite know what to expect from their work.
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