HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610) - Rockets guard James Harden is eligible to play Saturday vs the Trailblazers as long as he continues to test negative for COVID-19.
The NBA ruled that Harden must self-isolate until Friday and produce negative tests before being cleared to play this weekend. Harden began isolating on Tuesday.
The league's ruling came after Harden was seen in a viral video at an event in Houston without wearing a mask. He was fined $50,000 by the NBA on Wednesday for violating the league's COVID-19 protocols and will lose $284,000 in salary for each game he potentially misses.
Houston's season opener on Wednesday night was postponed after three Rockets players returned either positive or inconclusive COVID-19 tests. The NBA determined that Houston couldn't meet the league's mandate that requires teams to have eight eligible players in order to play a game.
The Rockets would have had enough players to play Wednesday had Harden not been required to isolate.