Brooklyn Nets’ James Harden (knee) out against the Portland Trail Blazers but is expected to play on Wednesday

PORTLAND, Ore – Brooklyn Nets goalkeeper James Harden (left knee stretch) will not play against the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night. The good news for Nets is that coach Steve Nash said Harden didn’t need MRI and should be ready to play in Wednesday’s match against the Chicago Bulls.

“I think we’re too careful,” Nash said before Monday’s match against the Portland Trail Blazers. “Heavy play. Wait for him to play on Wednesday.”

Nash said in Sunday’s San Antonio Spurs overtime after victory 121-119 that both Harden and star striker Kevin Durant wanted to play in Monday’s match, which was moved to the December 23 due to the Covid epidemic on the Nets list. But the Nets changed course with so many matches in the near future, including the second in a row on Wednesday and Thursday: a road game against the Bulls and a home game against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Harden played in a match of Sunday 44 minutes and played an average of 38.6 minutes per match this month. Durant pointed out that part of the reason he wanted to play was that he could continue to build “chemistry” with guard Kyrie Irving, even though he had flown the other night. Irving, who has not been vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, returned to the lineup last week after Jan. 5 after defeating the Indiana Pacers, but is still unable to play in the home game due to a New York vaccination authorization.

Nash said Durant’s minutes are being watched against the Blazers.

“I wouldn’t say a minute limit,” Nash said. “But of course we’d be happy if we could limit his minutes, we wouldn’t overload the long distance between games.”

Nash also said that while there is no specific upper limit on Irving’s minutes, the Nets will continue to be cautious as he rediscovers his rhythm.

“It would be great if we didn’t have to get him to be 40 tonight,” Nash said. “But at the same time, I think he has most of his preparation and legs and he’s ready to play as much as needed … you don’t want to play him for 44 minutes tonight, then he has to turn around and play a big game on Wednesday.

“So we’re playing him more minutes, but we’d like it to be a gradual and strategic allocation of minutes, not just ‘All right, we have a new Ferrari and we’re going to collect miles.’ ‘”

Nets midfielder LaMarcus Aldridge will miss his second game in a row due to the tenderness of his right foot. Nash said he does not expect Aldridge to play in Chicago on Wednesday.