NEW YORK -- James Harden returned to the Brooklyn Nets' lineup on Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs after missing more than a month with a hamstring strain.
Still, the Nets will have to wait, once again, to see their Big Three in action. Kyrie Irving was not playing in Wednesday's game because of a facial contusion.
Harden had 18 points and 11 assists as the Nets outlasted the Spurs 128-116. Harden also had seven rebounds after the longest layoff of his career. Landry Shamet scored 21 points and Nicolas Claxton had a career-high 18 for the Nets, who won their third straight and pulled within 1 1/2 games of Philadelphia for the Eastern Conference lead.