James Harden’s surprise return for Game 5 won’t be forgotten

As it turns out, James Harden did not take long to figure out this whole New York thing. We are all suckers for a star with an injured leg surprising everyone by hobbling his way back into the playoffs, and back into our hearts.

Willis Reed, Game 7, Madison Square Garden this was not. But out of left field, as he prepared to face Milwaukee in Tuesday night’s Game 5, Harden deserved credit for his determination, for his willingness to put his body on the line and, perhaps, for correctly reading the room. All boroughs of the city forever appreciate athletes who are tough and resilient, which is why the regular-season Knicks made such a favorable impression on their fan base. Harden wasn’t about to let Kevin Durant go it alone in the wake of Kyrie Irving’s ankle injury without trying to help him save Brooklyn from a potentially lethal 3-2 series deficit. He approached pregame warm-ups with the intention of playing, and with the hope that his hamstring wouldn’t bark at him — or at least wouldn’t bark loudly at him — so he could let it rip against the Bucks. After making it onto the floor for Game 5, it didn’t matter what the final score said. He was declared a winner just by showing up.