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James Harden’s Injury Update
Harden popped up on the LA Clippers injury report with a left calf contusion, which is basically a deep bruise in the calf muscle. On the official NBA injury report and multiple outlets, his status is “questionable,” meaning the team is checking him pre‑game to see how the calf responds before deciding if he suits up. Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) shared on X a key injury update as of 3 ET, listing James Harden as questionable.
In a recent update before the Clippers–Grizzlies game, reports said Harden was deemed healthy enough to play after being on the injury report all day. So the key thing: this isn’t a season‑ending thing or a long rehab situation right now, it’s more of a short‑term pain and risk‑management call game by game. Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) reported on X that James Harden is now a game-time decision for Monday due to a calf issue, clarifying that the Clippers said Ty Lue misspoke when he suggested Harden would play.
What Happened to James Harden?
The calf issue seems to have come after a heavy‑minutes stretch, including a game where he logged over 40 minutes in a loss to the Houston Rockets on December 11. By the time the Clippers were getting ready for Memphis, he showed up on the injury report with that left calf contusion, which is why fans suddenly started seeing his name under “questionable.”
Calf injuries are up across the league this season, and many players have needed weeks off, which is why people got nervous when Harden’s name showed there. For now, though, reports around the Grizzlies game specifically said he was ultimately cleared and available to play, even after the earlier confusion where Ty Lue initially misspoke about his status. Swish Cultures (@swishcultures_) reported on X that James Harden, dealing with a calf issue, is available to play tonight against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Is James Harden Available to Play?
Yes, Harden has been available to play, even while being listed as questionable. Before the matchup with the Grizzlies, the Clippers had him on the report, but updates made it clear he was healthy enough to go, and he has only been at risk of missing a very small number of games so far this season.
Sites that track live injury statuses list him as dealing with the calf issue but not ruled out, and some also show him “cleared to play” in recent updates. So if someone asks “Is James Harden playing?” right now, the honest answer is: he’s banged up, monitored closely, but yes, available to play when the medical staff signs off.
James Harden Stats
Harden’s production this year with the Clippers has still been star‑level. Across the 2025‑26 season so far, he’s averaging about 26.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game, shooting roughly 44% from the field and around 36–37% from three. Those numbers line up with what he did in the previous full season, where he averaged 22.8 points, 8.7 assists, and 5.8 rebounds over 79 games and made his 11th All‑Star appearance.
So even with the injury chatter, he’s still playing like a primary option, carrying a lot of the offensive load on a Clippers team that’s struggled in the standings.
Disclaimer
All James Harden injury details and availability information are based on the latest publicly available reports at the time of writing and may change at any moment. Readers should confirm his final game status through official team updates, NBA injury reports, or trusted sports news outlets before relying on this information.
