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Whereas the MVP outcomes won’t be identified till after the common season, there’s little doubt in James Harden‘s thoughts who ought to win, particularly with the new streak the Brooklyn Nets have been on for over the previous month.
Harden appears to provide one other standout efficiency Monday evening when the Nets host the league-worst Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Nets are 17-3 of their previous 20 video games since Feb. 9, a stretch throughout which Kevin Durant has performed as soon as because of a hamstring damage and Kyrie Irving has missed six video games because of minor accidents and private causes.
Harden is averaging 26 factors, 8.9 rebounds and 11.4 assists on 46.8 p.c capturing in 31 video games with the Nets. He additionally has 11 triple-doubles, one shy of the franchise document Jason Kidd set in 2006-07 and matched the next season.
In Friday’s 113-111 win at Detroit, Harden returned from sitting out Brooklyn’s 30-point loss at Utah with a neck damage and tied a season-high with 44 factors to associate with 14 rebounds and eight assists. It was Harden’s second 40-point recreation as a Web and his eighth recreation with at the very least 30 factors since becoming a member of the crew.
“I really feel like I’m the MVP,” Harden stated. “I do not wish to be talking individually on myself. I’m simply going to depart it at that.
“Numbers are displaying it for itself, and we’re profitable. That is all I can say.”
Harden’s numbers could also be much more spectacular contemplating how little he has shared the court docket with Irving and Durant. The trio has performed simply seven video games collectively totaling 186 minutes, though that determine could change quickly.
“We anticipate to get these guys again this week and we will not wait,” Harden stated.
Coach Steve Nash stated Sunday that Irving will likely be accessible to return to the lineup Monday, however Durant will seemingly be sidelined for an additional week.
At any time when the duo returns, they may return to a roster that added Blake Griffin and can add LaMarcus Aldridge. The previous Spur and Blazer may very well be accessible Monday, though like Griffin, it may take him a number of video games to get ramped up and truly seem in a recreation.
Minnesota owns 4 wins in its previous 10 video games following a nine-game skid from Feb. 16-March 3 and is coming off a 129-107 dwelling loss to the Houston Rockets on Saturday, marking the twenty second time it allowed at the very least 120 factors. The Wolves trailed 74-48 at halftime an evening after scoring the ultimate 22 factors and overcoming a 29-point deficit to beat Houston on Friday.
“The wake-up name ought to have been final evening after we had this sort of recreation and we discovered a solution to come again and win,” Minnesota heart Karl-Anthony Cities stated. “You’ll be able to’t anticipate one thing to occur like that two nights in a row.
“We acquired fortunate. If you happen to do not come out prepared within the NBA, they will do what they did to us tonight. We should always have realized our lesson final evening.”
Cities and rookie Anthony Edwards scored 27 factors apiece on an evening when Malik Beasley returned from a 12-game suspension and scored 13 factors.
Cities is averaging 29.3 factors over his previous seven video games, and Edwards is also taking part in nicely recently. Edwards is averaging 25 factors over his previous eight video games, a stretch that features 42 factors on March 18 in Phoenix.
–Discipline Stage Media
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