Steve Nash: Jeff Green questionable for Game 4; James Harden remains out

The Nets enter a pivotal Game 4 nursing a flimsy 2-1 series lead, but reinforcements may be on the way.

Steve Nash floated the possibility of having Jeff Green — who has been sidelined with a strained left plantar fascia suffered in Game 2 against the Celtics — available for Game 4 after Wednesday practice.

Ahead of Sunday’s Game 4, the Nets head coach said Green is questionable. Although the positive news on the Nets veteran, James Harden will be out for the Sunday’s game but is doing “very well.”

“Both are progressing well. James is out for tomorrow but is doing very well and Jeff is questionable for tomorrow,” said Nash after Saturday’s practice.

Green, who greeted reporters for the first time Wednesday since suffering the injury, explained how he has been dealing and playing with the injury to a lesser degree throughout the season. The Nets veteran said he didn’t participate in the team's practice Wednesday, but was running and was getting used to the accustomed movements with the way he played.

“I hate being out,” said Green after Wednesday’s practice. “Like James always says, he always takes pride in being available for his teammates, I’m the same way and it’s painful being out. That’s why you see me on the sidelines up every play, trying to be a voice from the sideline, but not physically being out there is tough.”

Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

On Sunday, Nash said that Harden had “high hopes” and wants to “be back ASAP” but allowed that the team will balance his ambition with protecting him from a long-term injury. Harden played 43 seconds of Game 1 against Milwaukee on Saturday before suffering the injury in the opening stretch. He drove towards the basket and after landing, he favored his right hamstring and headed to the locker room.

Prior to suffering the injury in Game 1, Harden missed 18 straight games — 20 of 21 games — with a right hamstring strain and with the Game 4 out, he’ll miss three straight games.