After suffering a hamstring injury back in December in a loss to the Miami Heat, Chris Paul is set to make his return to the Houston Rockets next week, according to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. Rockets guard Chris Paul out tonight vs. Raptors, D'Antoni said, but likely to return on Sunday. — Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) January 25, 2019 With a record of 11-5 in CP3’s absence, the Rockets have maintained to stay afloat thanks to the heroic efforts from James Harden. Over the past month and a half, Harden has been nothing short but sensational for the Rockets. He has scored 30 or more points in 21 consecutive games. And after recording a career-high 61 points against the New York Knicks, Harden is now averaging 45.3 points per game in the month of January, 36.3 points for the season. With the year more than halfway over, Harden has to be the favorite to win league MVP honors. Sure, the Rockets are nowhere near as good as they were this time last season, but Russell Westbrook’s 2017 award helped changed the narrative of what it meant to be named Most Valuable Player. 47 wins were enough for Russ because he did something not done since Oscar Robertson. The Rockets are on pace for 47 wins this year, and James Harden’s doing something no one’s done since Wilt Chamberlain. Whether win or lose, it has been an honor to watch Harden go on a historic scoring spree. So much so, Harden’s incredible run is quickly becoming one of my favorite moments in Rockets history. However, as the old saying goes, all good things must come to an end, and the same can be said about Harden’s current streak. With Paul returning to the lineup as early as next week, will Harden’s historic run come to an end sooner rather than later? First and foremost, this question is not posed to ask whether Harden and Paul can co-exist together, nor questioning Harden’s ability to score next to CP3. If anything, Harden’s scoring will become more efficient and dangerous playing alongside one of the league’s best point guards. Harden’s historic run began with a 50 point triple-double against the Los Angeles Lakers, in a game where CP3 scored 14 points and nine assists in the win. Four nights later, the reigning MVP recorded 47 points in a 102-97 victory over the Utah Jazz, while Paul recorded 11 points and nine assists during the game. So there is evidence that Harden can still put up these numbers playing next to Paul. However, most of Harden’s legendary performances come in the absence of CP3. Remember his 60-point triple-double win over the Orlando Magic last season? Harden’s legendary performance came during a one-game absence from Paul, who was out due to a sore right groin. Most recently, Harden’s epic 44-point triple-double to lead the Rockets to a one-point victory over the Warriors on January 3 also came during a stretch where his backcourt mate was sideline due to injury. Without CP3 on the floor, Harden takes his game to another level because he has to. Harden’s responsibility simply increases when Paul is unavailable to play. In the 16 games Paul has missed, Harden is averaging a usage rate of 44.2 percent, according to NBA.com Advanced Stats. However, prior to CP3’s injury, Harden usage rate dropped nearly 10 percent at 36.2 USG% per game. With Chris Paul returning to the lineup soon, the Rockets will have an additional player who can score and help orchestrate their offense moving forward. However, most importantly, Paul’s return means there will be someone who can take the offensive load off the shoulders of James Harden, though Clint Capela being out means the Rockets are still going to need as many points as possible from The Beard. And although this will be great as the Rockets look to make a push toward the playoffs, the end is likely near for Harden’s historic run in the midst of the Point-God’s return. And that might not be such a bad thing if we want the MVBeard fresh enough for a deep playoff run.<doc-sep>Chris Paul is expected to make his return to the Houston Rockets lineup on Sunday against the Orlando Magic. Paul missed the previous 17 games with a hamstring injury. The Rockets went 12-5 in his absence.<doc-sep>Oscar Baldizon/Getty Images Houston Rockets point guard Chris Paul has missed 17 straight games with a left hamstring strain, but the 14-year veteran looks like he'll be back in the lineup on Sunday versus the Orlando Magic, per Tim MacMahon of ESPN. A source spoke with MacMahon on Friday and estimated that Paul's shot at returning for his team's matchup with Orlando was "almost 100 [percent]." The Rockets are 28-20 after going 65-17 and finishing first in the Western Conference last season, but they've done well of late thanks largely to James Harden, who has averaged 42.7 points since Dec. 13. Since losing Paul, the Rockets have gone 12-5. The team is still without center Clint Capela, who is out for at least a month with a torn right thumb ligament. But the Rockets do have big man Kenneth Faried, who just dropped 21 points and 14 boards in a 121-119 win over the Toronto Raptors on Friday, to stem the tide. Still, the defense, which finished sixth in efficiency last year, has fallen to tied for 25th in that category. Losing key pieces to last year's rotation, such as Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Trevor Ariza and Ryan Anderson, have also hurt the team's depth. Per NBA.com, the Rockets rank last in scoring and field-goal percentage off the bench. On Paul's end, he's still the same star point guard the league has been used to for a decade-plus. While he is shooting just 41.5 percent from the field, Paul's defensive prowess hasn't skipped a beat, as he ranks third among all qualified floor generals in defensive real plus-minus, per ESPN. For the season, he's averaging 15.6 points, 8.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game. Video Play Button Videos you might like The Rockets are fifth in a loaded Western Conference where 10 teams are above .500, so Paul's return is a welcome sight as the team looks to clinch a postseason berth. Game time for the Rockets' Sunday matchup with the Magic is 7 p.m. ET at the Toyota Center in Houston.<doc-sep>The five-week wait for Chris Paul to return from his strained left hamstring is almost over. The Rockets will list him as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Magic at Toyota Center. If he is not cleared then, he is expected to be ready to face the Pelicans on Tuesday. Coach Mike D’Antoni initially did not doubt Paul would suit up Sunday, but the assessment turned out to be premature. “I thought I was sure yesterday,” D’Antoni said Saturday, “but not 100 percent today. We’ll see how he goes through his stuff, then he and the trainers will decide tomorrow.” The Rockets might be mindful of Paul’s health more intensely as they head into the second half of the season and expect a deep playoff run. “Being careful,” D’Antoni said. A strained left hamstring sidelined him for three games in late November and another 17 after reinjuring it during a Dec. 20 game in Miami. The 33-year-old point guard has played in 1,009 NBA games over 14 seasons. Since he signed in the summer of 2017, Paul has missed 30 percent of Rockets games. The Rockets have seven back-to-backs remaining on the schedule, and D’Antoni said Paul likely will sit out the second of those games. The first opportunity for a respite will be road games Feb. 1 against the Nuggets and Feb. 2 against Utah. The team does not seem to have plans to coddle Paul. D’Antoni mentioned the strategy for back-to-backs, but is not committed to it. “We need to be careful about resting people too much, people get out of rhythm, the team gets out of whack,” he said. “You need to be really careful with that.” Before Dec. 20, Paul averaged 33.2 minutes per game, his most since the 2014-2015 season. Although some of those minutes will go to guards James Harden, Eric Guard and Austin Rivers — signed by the Rockets on Dec. 24 — D’Antoni is not concerned about pushing Paul. “He’s had 17 games off, so I think he’ll be pretty fresh,” D’Antoni said with a grin. When Paul limped off the court in Miami, the Rockets’ hopes of continuing a turnaround appeared shot. The Rockets were 16-15, in the midst of an uphill climb to put their .500 record behind them. That was a month ago, but it seems like it happened in a different season on a different team. Before Dec. 20, the Rockets had lost five games Paul had missed. They went 12-5 during his second injury stint and finished Friday fifth in the Western Conference, one game behind the fourth-place Trail Blazers and two behind the Thunder. “He’s coming back to a different team for sure,” forward P.J. Tucker said. “We’ve grown and added some additions. We’ve gotten better.” Their success without Paul included wins over the Spurs, Thunder and Celtics, and a handful against opponents with losing records, but it would be an exaggeration to suggest the Rockets have played significantly better with Paul dressed in a suit rather than a jersey. Only incrementally did the team improve some weaknesses, such as averaging three more rebounds per game. They also declined in other areas, such as field-goal percentage, and are 6-5 in their last 11 games. Hustling more to steal wins and pouring in points has buoyed the Rockets while Paul was anchored to the bench. The team averaged 118.8 points per game the past 17 games, after it had averaged 109.2 points through the first 32 games of the season. “Next man up,” Harden said of the mentality. No player raised his game in Paul’s absence like the reigning Most Valuable Player, who averaged 43.6 points, eight assists and 7.7 rebounds. And Harden is not concerned about the likely dip in his usage and scoring rates. “I'm here for whatever I have to do,” he said. “Guys go out, some guys gotta step up more than usual. When guys are healthy, some roles are going to go down a little bit, but that’s fine. As long as we’re playing well and clicking, we’re good.” Tucker suggested Harden could maintain his historic production because Paul is “going to make it tougher for people to guard James.” Gordon suggested Harden should concede nothing: “We still need him to be aggressive. With Chris, we need his good playmaking.” It is clear that for the Rockets to win more, Paul needs to be active, no matter if his minutes are reduced or fully restored. “Chris is a staple of this team,” Tucker said. “He’s one of the guys that makes us go. He’s one of the smartest players I've ever played with. Any time you get a player like that out there, regardless of what his numbers are or what he does, he’s valuable no matter what he does.” Paul’s return will squeeze Rivers out of the starting rotation, which is not new for him. He had the same role for three seasons with Paul on the Clippers. He has spent 68 percent of his career coming off the bench. “I know my rotation minutes already,” Rivers said. “My minutes will be whatever they’ll be. I'm not concerned about it. My whole focus is to continue my level of play. I’m glad Chris is back. We’re much deeper now. It’ll be fun.” “He’ll be great,” D’Antoni said of using Rivers off the bench. “It gives us more depth. Save some guys’ legs.” The three guards have been overloaded out of necessity. Paul not only gives them a chance to get more minutes to breathe, he also offers D’Antoni the chance to unleash a fleet of ball-handlers in a four-guard lineup. “We can use it whenever we want to because James Harden can play the four,” D’Antoni said. “He guards better in the post than anywhere. You could call him a point four. Maybe it works great. Maybe it doesn’t work great. That’s why the next 40 games we’ve got to watch and make sure we get the best lineups on the floor.” Paul return also signifies a major step closer to the team having its entire roster available, which has been a rarity this season.<doc-sep>
HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 07: Chris Paul #3 of the Houston Rockets talks with Clint Capela #15 at Toyota Center on January 07, 2019 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) After a 16-game absence due to injury, Chris Paul is making his return to the Houston Rockets to provide some much-needed help for James Harden. As much fun as it can be to watch James Harden essentially perform as a one-man basketball team, it hasn’t been good for the Houston Rockets. They are lucky enough to have the best pure scorer in the NBA — possibly of all time — but the reigning MVP can only win so many games on his own. Luckily, Harden won’t have to carry the Rockets on his shoulders for much longer. Veteran point guard Chris Paul is set to make his return for Sunday night’s game against the Orlando Magic, coming back from a 16-game absence due to a hamstring injury. Head coach Mike D’Antoni is confident that Paul will be good to go when he returns. “I think he’s ready to go, we’re just being extra careful,” D’Antoni said, according to the Houston Chronicle. In the 21 total games that Paul has missed this season, the Rockets have gone just 11-10. It certainly hasn’t been because of a lack of effort by Harden, who is averaging 36.2 points per game this year, and recently put up a season-high 61 points against the New York Knicks. Harden hasn’t scored less than 30 points in a game since Dec. 11. But no superstar player can make a team thrive on his own, and Harden is greatly looking forward to having his right-hand man back on the court with him. “It’ll be great,” Harden said. “We’ve been missing him, missing his leadership, his playmaking ability and his presence on the court.” Paul will certainly give Houston a boost on offense, as he is averaging 15.6 points in the games he has played this year. The most important thing, however, is that he will take some of the workload off of Harden, who has to be running on fumes at this point.