Houston Rockets guard James Harden has missed seven games with a hamstring strain. Houston Rockets star James Harden is expected to return against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday, per ESPN's Tim MacMahon. The fortnight has passed since the Rockets announced they would wait two weeks to reevaluate the hamstring Harden strained late in a double-overtime win over the Los Angeles Lakers on New Year's Eve, and he's been cleared to play, pending a setback at Wednesday's practice, MacMahon reported.