Source: Tests show no cornea damage for Harden
Insult was added to James Harden’s double eye injury, as the Rockets head home down two games to the Warriors. (1:34)
The Houston Rockets are optimistic that star guard James Harden will not have any more problems with his vision in the Western Conference semifinals, sources told ESPN on Wednesday.
After the Rockets’ flight landed in Houston on Wednesday afternoon, Harden went straight to an eye doctor. Tests revealed no damage to either of Harden’s corneas, a source said, and the Rockets expect his vision to be completely clear by Saturday’s Game 3.
Harden suffered contusions in both eyes and a laceration on the inside of his left eyelid when he was inadvertently hit in the face by Golden State’s Draymond Green a little more than five minutes into the Rockets’ Game 2 loss on Tuesday.
Harden said he could “barely see” after returning to the game in the second quarter. He frequently squinted and shielded his eyes from the light in the remainder of the game and his postgame news conference. Harden’s vision in his left eye was especially blurry.
Harden’s issues with his vision were not evident in his performance. He finished with 29 points and had his highest field goal percentage of the postseason (9-of-19, 47.4 percent), despite missing his first three shots before suffering the injury.