James Harden cleared to play for pivotal Game 5 against the Bucks

The Brooklyn Nets could have James Harden return to the floor for a critical Game 5, as he is one step closer to playing against the Bucks.

The Brooklyn Nets finally received some positive news regarding one of their injured stars. James Harden has been cleared to play in the team’s Game 5 matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Beard only played a minute into Game 1 of the series before leaving with hamstring tightness. Harden has been dealing with this injury for a few months now, causing him to miss 20 of 21 games late in the regular season. He was initially ruled out on Monday, along with Kyrie Irving, who sprained his right ankle in Game 4.

What can the Brooklyn Nets expect from James Harden in Game 5?

Although Harden is cleared to play, it doesn’t mean he will play. According to Woj, he made it an through early shootaround fine which allowed him to be cleared. He will go through a second shootaround before the game to test the hamstring again. The expectation is that if it feels good, The Beard will play.

Having Harden on the court will be a huge boost to the Nets. He is their point guard on offense, helping others find their shots. If he doesn’t play, Kevin Durant will have to manage that, something he hasn’t done for the majority of his career. Plus Harden’s scoring ability gives points to a Nets team that will really need them.

Things are looking up for Harden and the Nets as they enter a pivotal Game 5. If he can go, the Nets will have enough offensive firepower to compete with the Bucks. He is truly a game-time decision, and that could be the difference between Brookly being up 3-2 or down 2-3.