Harden starts in Game 5 vs. Bucks

Brooklyn Nets star James Harden started in Game 5 against the Milwaukee Bucks after testing out his hamstring during pregame warmups.

Harden had missed all but the opening 43 seconds of the Eastern Conference semifinal against Milwaukee after tweaking his right hamstring in Game 1. He was diagnosed with hamstring tightness following imaging results, avoiding a more serious strain like the one that sidelined him for over a month late in the season.

Brooklyn is without point guard Kyrie Irving for Game 5. The 29-year-old sprained his right ankle in Sunday's Game 4 loss.

The Bucks tied the series 2-2 after losing the opening two games.