NBA: Harden out, Lin back for Rockets against Mavs

Houston guard James Harden is out for a second straight game for the Rockets against the Mavericks (Tuesday, PHL time), but Jeremy Lin will play after missing time with back spasms.

Jeremy Lin is in a good mood. He's back in the lineup tonight. https://t.co/N8lSfzh1rX

— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) December 24, 2013

Harden, who leads the team in scoring with 23.9 points a game, will sit out Monday night with a sprained left ankle.

Lin has missed four games recently with back spasms. The Rockets are also without guard Patrick Beverley, who has a right hand injury and center Omer Asik, who has missed the last nine games with a right thigh bruise. - AP