National Basketball Association

Rockets star Harden leaves game with apparent knee injury

Published Jan. 31, 2015 8:51 p.m. ET

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AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) Houston Rockets star James Harden has left the game against the Detroit Pistons in the second quarter with an apparent injury to his left knee area.

Harden was able to walk toward the locker room under his own power Saturday night, but only after he remained down for a while after falling to the floor on a drive to the basket. The 25-year-old guard came into the game averaging an NBA-best 27 points per game.

The Rockets have already been without star center Dwight Howard because of swelling in his right knee. Harden was on the pregame injury report with a bruised right knee, but he was in the starting lineup.