Motiejunas’ return delayed for reasons not quite so clear
The Rockets’ struggles to return Donatas Motiejunas to their roster stretched on for another day, even after the team and restricted free agent agreed to a new four-year deal.
Motiejunas was not at Saturday night’s game as expected, with Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni saying there had been “some issues,” though he said he did not know enough about the situation to be more specific.
Another individual, speaking on the condition of anonymity when asked if Motiejunas had completed and passed his physical, said, “Not yet.”
“I don’t know a whole lot,” D’Antoni said before Saturday’s 109-87 victory over the Mavericks. “They had some trouble with some issues or whatever. I don’t know. I just know it’s not quite done. They’re having some issues. I thought he’d be here tonight, and he’s not. That’s all I kind of know right now. We’ll see.”
Motiejunas was scheduled to take his physical Saturday. D’Antoni did not elaborate to say whether there were issues found with the tests or in scheduling all of the examination, or if there were other snags unrelated to Motiejunas’ medical examinations. He did pass his physical with the Nets before they signed him to an offer sheet Dec. 2.
The Rockets initially matched the offer sheet and then determined they would hold Motiejunas to the terms of that deal when he did not agree to take his physical, before reaching agreement on a new contract Friday. The Rockets have not announced the signing.
No rush to grab contender status
The Rockets went into Saturday’s game tied for the fourth-best record in the NBA, behind only the Cavaliers, Warriors and Spurs, the NBA’s past three champions. With 10 road wins, including one each against San Antonio, Golden State and Oklahoma City, the Rockets could make a case to be mentioned among the contenders.
They would not go that far, even in the aftermath of Friday’s victory in Oklahoma City.
“No, I’m cool with being low-key,” guard Pat Beverley said. “Flying under the radar, I’m really cool with that. I like it way better. We’ll just try to keep knocking them down.”
Coach Mike D’Antoni said it was premature to think of the Rockets as among the contenders, but they had done enough to be mentioned.
“I think we’re there in the conversation,” D’Antoni said. “Now the conversation may be short, but we’re there.
“It doesn’t mean anything, it’s way too early; we’ve just got to get better.”
Gordon thriving as sixth man
Eric Gordon’s streak of seven consecutive games with at least four made 3-pointers, the second longest in NBA history, ended Friday when he had three. But he has been on a roll since returning to his sixth-man role in the last 13 games.
Some of that could be from sharing the backcourt with Pat Beverley, who returned from his preseason injury and allowed Gordon to play off the ball as he has with James Harden.
“I think Pat also really tries to find him,” coach Mike D’Antoni said. “He really makes a point of it. He’s good at it. I think it’s mostly Eric settling into his role.”
After making six of nine 3s against the Mavericks on Saturday, Gordon is shooting 51.8 percent from behind the arc over his last nine games. In the first 13 games since Gordon returned to the bench with Beverley’s return, he has averaged 17.7 points in 29.7 minutes per game, making roughly 46 percent of his shots. When Gordon came off the bench when Beverley was out, he averaged 17.2 points in 34.2 minutes, shooting 40 percent.