With the Rockets willing to increase guard James Harden's playing time to roughly 30 minutes in his second game back from his hamstring injury, Harden said he had no issues on the day after his first game back other than with his rustiness from the seven-game layoff.

"I feel good," said Harden, who made 3 of 15 shots in 26 minutes against the Timberwolves on Thursday. "Yesterday was actually my first time being competitive, playing against somebody, physicality. Was a little rusty, as you could tell. I felt good. I was happy we won of course.

"The physicality of the game will come back, whether it's tomorrow, whether it's Monday, whether it is the third game from now. I'm not worried about that. I was happy to be out on the court and feel the atmosphere again."

Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni said Harden's playing time could depend on his fitness as he works his way back to game shape.

"I think he can get up to about 30. A little bit of that is he's a little bit out of shape. A little bit of 25 is right for a lot or reasons. But he will. That's a natural thing. He's going to be a little rusty. We expect every game to be a little better."