James Harden (hamstring) struggles in five-factor return, however Brooklyn Nets win game 5

New york -- Brooklyn Nets big name James Harden become held to five points in his return to the beginning lineup Tuesday night, but the Nets went on to defeat the Milwaukee dollars 114-108 in game five within the eastern convention semifinals. Brooklyn leads the series three-2.

The selection to allow Harden to play become made after he examined his right hamstring at the court docket before tipoff. He played 37 minutes and shot 1-for-10 from the field, lacking all 8 of his three-factor attempts, and went scoreless inside the first 1/2. He brought six rebounds, eight assists and 4 turnovers.

It changed into the first time Harden became to be had to play in a game considering June five, when he injured his hamstring in the first minute of recreation 1 of the series. When you consider that then, he has been dealing with what the crew has referred to as hamstring tightness.

"i am not positive the extent of threat," head educate Steve Nash stated earlier than the sport. "I assume it's far James' selection. He desires to play. In the end, he desires to play. He is been pushing."

Harden participated inside the Nets' shootaround Tuesday morning with improvement in his hamstring, and that induced the team to improve his repute from doubtful to questionable for recreation five, resources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Nets are preparing to be with out defend Kyrie Irving (right ankle sprain) for the relaxation of the collection, assets said. The team hasn't formally dominated Irving out beyond game 5.

Nash stated Sunday that the crew could try to approach the injuries as remoted incidents and not let Irving's ankle sprain rush Harden lower back to the floor earlier than his hamstring is fully healed.

Nonetheless, Nash admitted Monday that Irving's damage changed into a "using" component for Harden in pushing to go back.

"He desires to play," Nash stated. "He desires to win a championship. He loves the playoffs and the potential to play this time of yr. So, I think it is been actually difficult for him on how a whole lot he cares, how a whole lot time he puts in, how much attempt he is put in to get to this function."

Irving was injured midway thru the second one zone of Sunday's recreation four in Milwaukee while he landed awkwardly on Giannis Antetokounmpo's foot after making a layup over Jrue excursion. Antetokounmpo crashed the paint in what became an try and help vacation, who became the primary defender.

Irving remained at the floor for numerous minutes as Nash and the team's athletic trainers attended to him. Eventually, Irving walked to the locker room without help but become limping. He left the arena in a strolling boot and on crutches. An MRI on Monday showed Irving's ankle sprain.

The Nets have battled accidents all season. The massive 3 of Harden, Irving and Kevin Durant played simply eight games collectively in the normal season and 6 games collectively inside the playoffs -- which includes the sport wherein Harden turned into injured after simply 43 seconds. Harden ignored 18 games inside the ordinary season with a hamstring pressure, and before that he neglected  with hamstring tightness.

At some stage in heat-united statesTuesday, Harden became shifting nicely as he shot, did cutting motions and threw passes to Jeff green. Harden had defensive kinesiology tape stretched over his right hamstring.

"We ought to aid him the excellent way we can," Nash said of Harden, "and be an aid for him to figure this out, however it's a tricky state of affairs -- but one that we are willing to go down with James. He's just been unbelievable for us this 12 months, and we want to assist him."