Houston’s Harden out vs. Pistons with ankle injury

The Houston Rockets are without leading scorer James Harden for

Saturday night’s game at Detroit.

Harden is out with a sprained right ankle, and Francisco Garcia

was in the starting lineup instead for the Rockets. Houston is also

without guard Jeremy Lin, who has been bothered by back spasms.

Harden is averaging 23.9 points per game, although he was held

to only 12 in Friday’s 114-81 loss at Indiana.