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James Harden said he could barely see due to injuries to both eyes Tuesday night, but the Houston Rockets expect the reigning MVP to be back on the court for Game 3 of the Western Conference Playoffs as they chase a 2-0 series deficit against the Golden State Warriors.
Warriors guard Stephen Curry scored 20 points in Golden State’s Game 2 win despite a finger injury that required X-rays in the second quarter.
The MVP anchors both said they would be ready for Saturday, when the Warriors visit Houston for the pivotal Game 3.

“It hurts, but it’s all right. Didn’t break anything,” Curry said Tuesday night. “Fortunate, and some higher power’s looking out for me on that one. Just gotta deal with pain and hopefully, before Saturday, that goes away and will be fine.”
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said he was bracing for the worst possible news after seeing the injury in real-time, but Curry quickly quelled those fears despite finishing 3 of 13 from 3-point range.
“I looked at the finger and I was just hoping it was a dislocation and not a break,” Kerr said. “And fortunately, that’s what it turned out to be. As far as whether it bothered him, you can ask him that. I thought he did some great things for us and fueled us, and may not have shot the 3 that well, but played a great game for us.”
Harden looked and acted worse for wear following an inadvertent shot from Warriors forward Draymond Green. He squinted and turned his head away from light several times during the game and the postgame press conference. Before the first quarter was halfway over, Harden took a shot to the face from Green, whose left hand crashed into Harden while they fought for a missed shot.
“I can barely see,” Harden said. “Just tried to go out there and do what I can to help my teammates.”
Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni said only something “catastrophic” would put Harden out of commission. Harden still managed 29 points and notched four assists — all after he returned from the locker room and received eyedrops to dull the pain.
“I’m sure he would have loved to play better. Under the circumstances, I thought he played great,” D’Antoni said.
–Field Level Media (@FieldLevelMedia)