James Harden Sits Out Clippers’ Road Game in Phoenix for Personal Reasons
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PHOENIX — Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden was unavailable for Thursday night’s contest against the Phoenix Suns because of personal reasons, the club announced before tip-off.
The absence marked the 11-time All-Star’s first missed game of the 2025-26 season. Harden had scored 25 points two nights earlier in the Clippers’ loss to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
Los Angeles was already playing without forward Kawhi Leonard, who remains sidelined by a sprained right ankle.
Bradley Beal, a former Suns guard now with the Clippers, returned to action under a minutes restriction. Head coach Tyronn Lue said the veteran is still working his way back after offseason back surgery. Beal spent two injury-plagued seasons in Phoenix before the trade to Los Angeles.
Phoenix also welcomed back guard Jalen Green, who made his season debut after missing time with a right hamstring strain. Green arrived from the Houston Rockets in a seven-team offseason deal that sent Kevin Durant to Houston.
Source: ESPN
