Brooklyn Nets vs. Philadelphia 76ers Injury Report: James Harden To Play Former Team While Ben Simmons Remains Out

Pro Football Doc is the FanDuel Official Injury Expert - Check out his home at Sports Injury Central (SIC) where his team analyzes all of the injury news from the NBA, MLB, NFL and more to assist you with your betting and fantasy sports plays.

Check out this matchup's Court View below:

That star with the beard will play against the Nets for the first time since being traded while defensive whiz Ben Simmons has yet to suit up for his new team.

76ers Injury Report

SIC Health Score: 91.8

The 76ers head into the Thursday matchup with an extremely healthy starting lineup headed by MVP contender C Joel Embiid. Embiid (FD $10,800) and company sit at 3rd in the Eastern Conference and just 2 1/2 games back of the the number one overall seed.

The big story heading into the Atlantic division rivalry game is Harden (FD $10,200) playing the squad he lasted just 80 total games with in a combined two seasons. Due to injury and COVID-19, both G Kyrie Irving and F Kevin Durant played with Harden just 16 times in what was clearly not a fit for the former Rocket.

The star guard came with a hamstring ailment but the plan is to give him scheduled maintenance days like the one given last Saturday.

One injury concern for the Sixers is the health of defensive forward Danny Green. The UNC alum will miss at least a week due to a finger laceration. Green averages 22.4 minutes a game meaning starting SF Matisse Thybulle (FD $3,900) will play more minutes and provide his usual defensive stats but may take on a more offensive role with Green out.

Nets Injury Report

SIC Health Score: 89.6

The Nets went into the season as favorites to win the title along with the Los Angeles Lakers but sit disappointingly at the 8 seed with a 33-33 record. Injuries and issues with COVID-19 have limited the Nets stars but both will be available Thursday night.

Kevin Durant (FD $10,400) will suit up for the 4th consecutive game after returning from an MCL sprain that cost him 21 games. He has averaged 27.3 points per game since returning showing no sluggishness or rust.

Joining him in the lineup for just the sixth game together this season is unearthly PG Kyrie Irving (FD $9,700). Irving is unable to play in home games due to the COVID-19 mandates in New York and has only played in 17 games overall this season. In those games, the shifty ball handler has played incredibly well averaging 26.2 points per game including a historic 50-point showcase on Tuesday.

Veteran big man LaMarcus Aldridge will miss the contest due to a hip injury.

The contest has a small injury advantage in favor of the Sixers but both hold relatively healthy rosters heading into a heated playoff-like environment.

Nets vs 76ers Best Bets

Nets +4.5:  Both teams are healthy and the SIC score differential is only 2.2 points, should be a close and hotly contested matchup

Matisse Thybulle Over 5.5 Points: With Danny Green out, Thybulle will be on the court more and just needs two 3-pointers to break prop which he has done 7 times this season