Rotation tweaks may be limited

Rockets veteran center Tyson Chandler had played in just two of the previous nine games when he was the choice as the backup on Saturday against the Lakers. Thabo Sefolosha had played in just two of 11 games when he was called on as the backup at power forward.

In both cases, the role could be temporary, based on unusual circumstances.

“I thought Tyson was just a better (option),” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said of playing Chandler rather than Isaiah Hartenstein or small lineups. “Dwight (Howard)

is a big dude, throws people around. You get thrown around or try to push him, (a second-year center) won’t get the benefit of the doubt.

“We’ll see going forward how we treat things.”

Sefolosha played largely because Austin Rivers was out, with D’Antoni indicating that Sefolosha had been excluded from the rotation to keep playing Rivers after

Eric Gordon’s return. That was part of the move to use Danuel

House Jr. as a power forward in three guard lineups, pushing Sefolosha out of the mix. With Rivers out on Saturday, House played more often as a small forward with Sefolosha playing 6½ minutes. Rivers is questionable to play against the Thunder on Monday with a sprained thumb.

“Just trying to find time for Austin limits other people,” D’Antoni said.

D’Antoni was unsure whether he would use his small lineup against the Thunder, though Oklahoma City plays traditional centers Steven Adams and

Nerlens Noel. He cited that the Lakers downsized in the final five minutes, replacing Howard with small forward Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, when he switched to his small lineup with P.J. Tucker at center.