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Cavs G James Harden breaks right thumb, questionable to play

Wed Feb 25 3:32pm ET
Field Level Media

Cavaliers guard James Harden fractured his right thumb during his team's win against the New York Knicks on Tuesday and is questionable for Cleveland's next game.

The Cavaliers will host the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night.

In a statement, the team said Harding underwent X-rays on Wednesday that confirmed a "non-displaced fracture of the distal phalanx."

According to the Mayo Clinic, that bone is located at the fingertip.


The Cavaliers said Harden, 36, will undergo treatment and continue to be evaluated.

Harden, a six-time first-team All-NBA selection and 2017-18 league MVP, is with his sixth NBA team. Cleveland acquired him Feb. 4 in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers for guard Darius Garland and a 2026 second-round draft pick.

The Cavaliers are 6-1 with Harden in the lineup. With Cleveland, he's averaging 18.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 8.0 assists.

On the season, he has averages of 24.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 8.1 assists in 51 games.

In 1,202 games (988 starts) over 17 seasons, Harden is averaging 24.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 7.3 assists.

Since entering the NBA as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2009 draft, Harden has played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Clippers and Cavaliers.

If Harden does not play Wednesday night, the Cavaliers will be without both of their starting guards. Donovan Mitchell is listed as out with a right groin strain.

Player Notes
Evan Mobley Wed Feb 25 5:30pm

Cleveland Cavaliers forward/center Evan Mobley (calf) will not play in Wednesday's matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks. The contest is the second leg of a back-to-back, and the Cavaliers are opting to rest Mobley as he continues his recovery from a left calf strain that previously sidelined him for seven games. Cleveland appears to be taking a cautious approach to avoid any setback. In his absence, Dean Wade and Nae'Qwan Tomlin should see increased minutes, making them potential short-term streaming options in deeper fantasy formats.

James Harden Wed Feb 25 5:10pm

According to Shams Charania of ESPN, Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (thumb) plans to play through a fractured right thumb. However, he remains listed as questionable for Wednesday's matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks. The 36-year-old sustained a non-displaced fracture on his non-shooting hand during Tuesday's 109-94 win over the Knicks. A visit to a hand specialist confirmed that surgery will not be required. If Harden is ultimately ruled out for tonight's contest, fantasy managers can view this as a short-term absence rather than a lingering concern, as he is not expected to miss extended time.

Ty Jerome Wed Feb 25 8:30am

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ty Jerome (illness) is poised to return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Golden State Warriors. The team has not included him on the injury report. Jerome was unavailable for Monday's matchup with Sacramento due to illness. Since making his season debut in late January, Jerome has averaged 19.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.3 steals in just 20.6 minutes per game. His efforts include a 19-point, seven-assist effort against the Warriors, who have the seventh-worst defensive record in the league against point guards.

Jamal Murray Wed Feb 25 8:20am

Denver Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray (hamstring) is listed as probable for Wednesday's tilt against the Boston Celtics. Murray is experiencing tightness in his right hamstring, but the issue likely isn't serious enough to keep him off the floor. The Canadian star has missed only five games all season and is riding a four-game 20-point streak. Murray had a big 22-point, 17-assist double-double when Denver and Boston locked horns for the first time this season. Typically, point guards don't have a lot of joy against the Celtics, who allow the sixth-fewest fantasy points in the league to the position.

Amen Thompson Wed Feb 25 8:20am

Houston Rockets guard/forward Amen Thompson (quadriceps) has been ruled out for Wednesday's clash against the Sacramento Kings. He will miss a fantastic fantasy matchup with a sore left quadriceps. The Rockets are likely to use Reed Sheppard as Thompson's replacement in the starting lineup. Sheppard has already built some momentum coming off the bench and would be an even more appealing fantasy option as a member of the first unit. The 21-year-old has averaged 13.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.3 steals in eight starts this season.

Khris Middleton Wed Feb 25 8:10am

Dallas Mavericks forward Khris Middleton (shoulder) didn't play in the second half of Tuesday's victory over the Brooklyn Nets. After colliding with Nets center Nicolas Claxton in the second quarter, Middleton was ruled out for the second half with a right shoulder stinger. The veteran forward finished with six points, five rebounds, one assist, and one steal in 12 minutes. It was an unfortunate blow for Middleton, who has been playing well lately. He entered Tuesday's game averaging 16.0 points and 4.8 rebounds across his last four appearances. Caleb Martin started the second half in Middleton's place but made little impact, tallying three points, five rebounds, two assists, and one steal.

PJ Washington Wed Feb 25 8:00am

Dallas Mavericks forward/center P.J. Washington (ankle) was injured late in Tuesday's win over the Brooklyn Nets. He appeared to have sprained his left ankle, limping off the court with a little over a minute remaining in the fourth quarter. Washington scored an efficient 13 points and tallied four rebounds, two assists, and one block. Dallas also lost Khris Middleton (shoulder) during Tuesday's contest. As a result, the rotation could have a very different look on Thursday night against the Sacramento Kings. Caleb Martin may get a chance to start, with Klay Thompson potentially more involved as well.

Scottie Barnes Wed Feb 25 7:50am

Toronto Raptors guard/forward Scottie Barnes (quadriceps) was injured late during Tuesday's loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, TSN's Josh Lewenberg reports. The two-time All-Star sustained a right quadriceps contusion, leaving him questionable for Wednesday's clash against the San Antonio Spurs. On Tuesday, Barnes was back in action after missing one game for personal reasons. He struggled on the offensive end but made a huge impact defensively. In 32 minutes, Barnes amassed 15 points, three rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and four blocks. Ja'Kobe Walter, who tallied 17 points in Tuesday's loss, was Barnes' replacement in the first unit on Sunday against Milwaukee and could run with the starters again on Wednesday night if Barnes can't play.

Jalen Johnson Wed Feb 25 7:40am

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson suffered a left hip flexor injury in Tuesday's matchup with the Washington Wizards. He played only six minutes, finishing with five points, three rebounds, and two steals. Johnson's early exit gave Jonathan Kuminga a chance to shine. He had 27 points in 24 minutes during his Hawks debut. Zaccharie Risacher also benefits from Johnson's absence. The French sophomore went close to a double-double on Tuesday night. It's unclear whether Johnson can suit up on Thursday when the Hawks have a rematch against Washington.

Draymond Green Tue Feb 24 7:10pm

Golden State Warriors forward/center Draymond Green (back) is available to play ahead of Tuesday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans. According to head coach Steve Kerr, Green won't have any workload limitations during this game. This is good news after Green was unable to play during Sunday's game due to a back issue. Fellow big man Al Horford (toe) has been ruled out, so Green could see an uptick in playing time and overall fantasy value. Fantasy managers can safely get Green back in their fantasy lineups ahead of tip-off on Tuesday.

Anfernee Simons Tue Feb 24 7:10pm

Chicago Bulls guard Anfernee Simons (wrist) has been diagnosed with a fracture after re-aggravating an injury he initially suffered during training camp. Surgery is not planned, and he will return once the pain subsides, but no timetable has been set. His absence opens backcourt minutes for Tre Jones, Collin Sexton, and Rob Dillingham. Jones posted eight points and three assists in 23 minutes last game and offers the highest upside if his workload increases. Dillingham and Sexton remain volatile fringe options, while Josh Giddey should handle more on-ball duties.

Chet Holmgren Tue Feb 24 7:10pm

Oklahoma City Thunder forward/center Chet Holmgren (back) will play on Tuesday versus Toronto. The 2022 No. 2 overall pick had a 17-point, 15-rebound double-double with three blocks in Saturday's win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. He popped up on the injury report due to back spasms. Fortunately, Holmgren will suit up for a Thunder team that is still without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdomen) and Jalen Williams (hamstring). As such, fantasy managers can expect increased involvement from Holmgren on both ends of the floor.

Joel Embiid Tue Feb 24 6:50pm

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee) has been upgraded to available for Tuesday's matchup against Indiana after sitting out five straight games due to right knee injury management and shin soreness. When active, Embiid has been dominant, averaging 33.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 2.0 triples, and 1.2 blocks across his last five outings. His return pushes Andre Drummond and Adem Bona back into limited reserve roles. Embiid remains an automatic start in all formats, while Drummond and Bona lose streaming appeal with minutes set to shrink.

Dejounte Murray Tue Feb 24 6:50pm

New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray (Achilles) is officially active ahead of Tuesday's game against the Golden State Warriors. As expected, Murray will make his season debut on Tuesday after missing over a year due to an Achilles injury. The expectation is that Murray is going to have an extremely limited workload right now. His role will likely be too minimal to make him a consistent fantasy option at the moment, but he's a great stash. Once he's back to full speed, Murray could potentially be a league winner, so stash him where he's available.

Daniel Gafford Tue Feb 24 6:50pm

Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (ankle) is available to suit up against the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday. Gafford will play in his 12th straight game despite dealing with a right ankle injury. The 27-year-old has been on a solid run recently, averaging 9.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 24.1 minutes across 10 consecutive starts, making him a viable streaming option for tonight's clash in Brooklyn.

Davion Mitchell Tue Feb 24 6:50pm

Miami Heat guard Davion Mitchell (illness) will return to the lineup Tuesday against Milwaukee after missing one game due to an illness. Mitchell has averaged 9.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.4 triples over his last five appearances while logging steady minutes in the backcourt rotation. His return likely pushes rookie Kasparas Jakucionis back to a reserve role after Jakucionis produced 12 points, five assists, and two triples in 23 minutes during his recent start. Mitchell profiles as a deep-league assists streamer, while Jakucionis loses short-term appeal.

Evan Mobley Tue Feb 24 6:50pm

Cleveland Cavaliers forward/center Evan Mobley (calf) will remain under a minutes limit during Tuesday's game against the New York Knicks. The Cavs have been cautious with Mobley since he missed seven games due to a left calf strain. On Sunday, Mobley finished with 15 points, two rebounds, and one assist in 25 minutes of action. The expectation is that Mobley will see a bump in playing time, but he will still be monitored. Fantasy managers in season-long formats should be comfortable getting Mobley active in their lineups. The 24-year-old won't be a great DFS option given his limitations at the moment.

Kam Jones Tue Feb 24 6:40pm

Indiana Pacers guard Kam Jones (back) is available for Tuesday's matchup against Philadelphia after being listed as probable earlier in the day. The rookie guard remains in the starting mix even with Andrew Nembhard and T.J. McConnell active. Jones logged 10 points, three assists, and two triples in 31 minutes last game and previously posted four points, five rebounds, and 11 assists in 39 minutes. He profiles as a deeper-league assists streamer, though backcourt health caps his ceiling. Nembhard remains the safer standard-league play.

Micah Potter Tue Feb 24 6:30pm

Indiana Pacers forward/center Pascal Siakam (wrist) will not play Tuesday against Philadelphia, while forward/center Micah Potter (ankle) is available and expected to see a larger role. Siakam recently returned from a hamstring issue but aggravated his wrist after a collision on Sunday, forcing him back to the sideline. Potter has averaged 12.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.8 triples over his last five games in 26.2 minutes, making him a viable streamer. Kobe Brown added 15 points and seven rebounds in 19 minutes last game and profiles as a deeper-league option.

Shaedon Sharpe Tue Feb 24 6:30pm

According to Sean Highkin of Rip City Radio 620, Portland Trail Blazers guard/forward Shaedon Sharpe (calf) will be re-evaluated in 4-6 weeks after being diagnosed with a stress reaction in his left fibula. A strained left calf had already sidelined Sharpe since early February, and this latest setback could push his return timetable into April. In his absence, Scoot Henderson and Vit Krejci could see expanded roles, potentially boosting their fantasy value.


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