Rockets' James Harden will play limited minutes in Thursday return

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The revolving door on Rockets' rotation turned again on Thursday, with guard James Harden returning after missing seven games with a strained hamstring, but Trevor Ariza and Gerald Green out with two-game suspensions for their roles in the post-game incident in Los Angeles on Monday.

Harden will be limited to roughly 25 minutes in his first game back, Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni said.

"He's a Hall of Famer," D'Antoni said. "He'll figure it out. He'll be a little rusty. But he's raring to go. I'll put my money on him. It wouldn't surprise me that he would be great. It wouldn't surprise me that he'd be rusty. I just know he's happy to be back."

With Ariza and Green out, Luc Mbah a Moute will start in his second game after missing a month with a dislocated shoulder, matching up with the Timberwolves' Andrew Wiggins on Thursday and the Warriors' Kevin Durant on Saturday. The lineup will be the 10th for the Rockets this season with their preferred starting lineup playing in just 13 games, all wins.

"I'm going to have to be ready, I guess," Mbah a Moute said. "It's a good test for me. I haven't really practiced. I just came back and played that game. We need to play, need to get going, whatever it takes. That was my first time with any contact, any basketball activities in a month. In the second half, I kind of settled. I just want to go out there and be aggressive. Obviously, it's going to take me more than one game. It's a process."

P.J. Tucker will play as a backup small forward with Ryan Anderson picking up extra playing time at power forward. James Harden is expected to be limited to 25 minutes in his first game back from a hamstring injury, with Eric Gordon backing up Harden and Chris Paul, while likely playing with both in a three-guard lineup.

"It will be fine," Gordon said. "I just have to continue to play well and hard and it's just time for us to really get back on track. We need to get guys, everyone back in the rhythm, back in form, but it's good to get James back and Luc back finally and hopefully we can continue to thrive this season."