D’Antoni adjusts on the fly

The Rockets moved two steps closer to full strength with James Harden and Clint Capela returning to practice Thursday and expected to play Friday against the Suns, with Luc Mbah a Moute upgraded to questionable with a sore left knee that kept him out for three games.

But the Rockets also might have taken two steps back, with Chris Paul (sore left hip) and Trevor Ariza (bruised right elbow) listed as questionable.

Harden and Capela were initially considered out for rest, but by Tuesday, the Rockets cited nagging issues that had not kept them out before.

Asked about sitting out while healthy enough to play, Harden said, “I was?”

When asked if he was healthy enough to play, Harden offered little insight other than indicating the sore right hand that he had been treating for several weeks had since improved with the night off.

“I don’t know,” Harden said. “I feel good now, though.”

Capela was listed out with a sprained left thumb.

“We’ll see,” Capela said when asked if he benefited from the time off. “I feel good. That’s the most important thing. I feel good and ready to go. My body feels better.”

Coach Mike D’Antoni said Mbah a Moute’s availability will be determined in part by how he feels after practicing Thursday. If Mbah a Moute, Ariza and Paul play, the Rockets would have a rare game with their full rotation healthy. The Rockets have had just six games in the past 26 with their regulars available.

“We have four games coming up after the one on Friday that we’ll try to look at different combinations and try to play

well,” D’Antoni said. “We want to continue to play well, but we could try different things out.”