Thunder guard James Harden will be available for the playoffs.  Read more after the jump.
Harden, who sustained a concussion Sunday when Los Angeles Lakers forward Metta World Peace landed a vicious elbow to Harden’s head, was cleared Wednesday to play under guidelines set by the NBA’s concussion policy, which was instituted at the start of this season.
In his season-ending teleconference with news reporters Wednesday afternoon, NBA Commissioner David Stern hinted Harden was close to receiving clearance.
Thunder coach Scott Brooks made it official about 75 minutes before the Thunder played the Denver Nuggets, in what is a key game for the Nuggets in terms of Western Conference seeding and important game for the Thunder in terms of home-court advantage if they were to reach the NBA Finals.
However, Brooks said the team decided to give Harden more rest.
“He’s passed all the NBA tests and evaluations for concussions, but we decided as a group to hold him out one more game and give him 24 more hours,” Brooks said. “He should be fine. We have recovery practice (Thursday) and our practice Friday.”
The NBA suspended World Peace seven games.
Brooks is happy to have Harden back for the first game of the opening round. Harden comes off the bench forOklahoma City, but he is one of its top players and a strong candidate to win Sixth Man of the Year.
“You don’t win in this league without having your best players,” Brooks said. “We can do it for a short period of time. You need your best players. James has had a terrific year. He’s been one of the leaders. He’s been consistent. He gives us spark, whatever we need off the bench, whether it’s scoring, playmaking, defending. He’s a really, really good basketball player, and he’s helped our team improve this year. We’re playing good basketball, and lot is because of James and his style.”
Thunder All-Star forward Kevin Durant expressed no concern about Harden’s return.
“James is a strong person. He’s a positive person. He doesn’t let anything like that bring him now,” Durant said. “If you had seen James yesterday, it was like nothing happened. I’m just worried about his health, and I want to see him on the floor because he means so much to us and means so much to this city. It’s tough not to see him right next to me in the locker room.
“He’s on old-school type of guy. … I’m sure he’s ready to play. I’m just looking forward to getting him back.”
