Why is James Harden Not Playing Tonight?
James Harden is sitting out tonight’s Clippers vs. Warriors game due to right shoulder soreness and stiffness, after being a late addition to the injury report on January 5, 2026.
Sports journalist Law Murray, posting on X under the handle @LawMurrayTheNU, reported that James Harden (shoulder) will not play tonight against the Warriors, confirming his absence in a straightforward injury update.
The team let him go through warmups first, but medical staff and coaches ultimately decided the risk was not worth it for a regular-season game, especially considering how many minutes he has been logging this year.
This is only the third game he has missed all season, which says a lot about how much work his body has been asked to do at age 36.
Even Clippers coach Tyronn Lue has admitted recently that the heavy offensive load Harden has carried while other stars were out has led to simple “body fatigue” piling up on top of this shoulder issue.
For a veteran guard who is still playing top-10 minutes per game in the league, a night off like this feels less like drama and more like common sense.
What Happened to James Harden?
James Harden has developed discomfort and stiffness in his right shoulder, likely a mix of minor injury and wear-and-tear from carrying the Clippers’ offense for long stretches this season.
Reports from beat writers and the official NBA injury report describe it as shoulder soreness rather than a structural tear or major damage, which is an important distinction for fans worried about something long term
The timing also tracks with his recent workload. During the stretch when Kawhi Leonard missed time, Harden was the primary initiator almost every possession, taking more shots, handling the ball constantly, and staying on the floor deep into games.
One small but telling detail: he went through his usual pregame routine before being downgraded and finally ruled out, which suggests the staff saw enough tightness or limitation to say, “not tonight,” even though the competitive instinct is clearly still there.
Anecdotally, this is the kind of situation fans have seen before with veteran stars: nothing looks catastrophic, but the movement is just a bit guarded, the shot a little shorter, the closeouts slightly slower.
That is often when smart teams step in and decide to protect the player from trying to push through a minor problem that could easily become a bigger one.
James Harden Stats
James Harden is having one of his strongest statistical seasons in years, which probably explains why the Clippers are so cautious with this shoulder right now. Through his first 30-plus games of the 2025–26 season, he has been both a primary scorer and a lead playmaker for Los Angeles.
Here are his key numbers this season with the Clippers:
-
Points per game: about 25–26 points, his highest scoring average since the 2019–20 season.
-
Assists per game: around 8.0, ranking among the league leaders in playmaking.
-
Rebounds per game: roughly 4.8–5.0 boards a night from the guard spot.
-
Shooting splits: about 43% from the field and 35% from three-point range, solid efficiency considering the usage and defensive attention.
-
Minutes per game: approximately 35.4 minutes, tied around top 10 in the NBA for workload.
For a 36-year-old guard playing this many minutes and carrying this much responsibility, a one-game pause because of shoulder stiffness on January 5, 2026, feels like a necessary step to keep those numbers – and his season – on track for the long run.
Disclaimer: The information provided here reflects official team injury reports, coach comments, and media coverage available as of the game day. Player availability can change quickly based on medical evaluations or last-minute decisions. Always check official NBA lineups and team announcements for the most up-to-date status before tip-off.
