Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden is out for Game 2 against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night with right hamstring tightness, but an MRI showed no structural damage, head coach Steve Nash announced Sunday on a Zoom call.

Harden left 43 seconds into the Nets’ 115-107 in Game 1 on Saturday night as he guarded Jrue Holiday on a drive to the basket. Harden, who averaged 24.6 points, 10.8 assists and 7.9 rebounds this season, previously missed 21 games this season with the hamstring injury.

Nash said the Nets hope to have Harden back “very, very quickly” but declined to give a more specific timetable. If the Nets also win Game 2 and go up 2-0 they would probably have the luxury of resting Harden for Game 3 as well.

“James has high hopes and he wants to be back ASAP...but it has to be right to take those risks,” Nash said. “We’re not going to take any old risk so we hope he’s back, I think he believes he’ll be back but we've got to see what happens. And only time can tell how he responds and where he's at in the coming days.”

He added: “He’s one of the greatest players in the game so we miss a guy that can play-make, can manipulate the defense, can score one-on-one....He’s a leader for us so we miss a tremendous amount but we’ve had that all year. We’ve had guys in and out of the lineup, guys have stepped up at the position so at least we’re familiar with making adjustments.

Without Harden, veteran Mike James will play a bigger role at point guard, along with Kyrie Irving.

“I’m basically the other point guard besides Kyrie so I got to be ready for that,” James said Sunday after going for 12 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists in Game 1. “I got to be ready to lead the team in some capacity and be ready to contribute.”

James said Nash “wants me to push the pace” and “get downhill and take my shots when available.” He said having Nash’s confidence “makes it easier” to play.

The Nets and their “Big 3” of Harden, Irving and Kevin Durant are heavy favorites to win the NBA title in just their first season together. Per Caesars William Hill, the Nets are at +165 to win the title.

If Harden is forced to miss extended time in the playoffs, it could have a major impact on this first-round series and ultimately on who wins the NBA title.

On Friday, Harden said he felt this was his best chance to win an NBA championship after never winning one in Houston or Oklahoma City.

“[But] you look at our roster, we’re elite too,” he said. “It’s going to be a showdown but I’m more than confident going into this postseason just because of the roster and our schemes and the things that we can control and the versatility that we have.”

Since coming over in a blockbuster trade from Houston in January, Harden has taken over point-guard duties from Irving and become more of a facilitator for Irving, Durant, Joe Harris and the rest of the Nets.

“Obviously, there’s only a handful of teams that have an opportunity,” Harden said Friday of winning a title. “And we’re one of those teams this year. So the excitement is there, but I think just the focus is the most important thing for myself. And just trying to rub that focus level and that engagement to detail into every one of my teammates.”

JEFF GREEN REMAINS OUT FOR GAME 2

Forward Jeff Green remains out for Game 2 with a strained plantar fascia, Nash said.

He has not played since May 25.

“Jeff is out for Game 2 but progressing quickly,” Nash said, “so I think we’ll see him in this series and hopefully it's Game 3 but who knows?”

Green was an important piece on both ends during the regular season, averaging 11.0 points and 3.9 rebounds.