Going deep
» 76ers’ bench one of their biggest strengths.
The Rockets’ greatest weakness can be claimed by Wednesday night’s opponent, the 76ers, as a capital strength: depth.
While the Rockets injury report listed nine players out and resembles a CVS receipt in its length, the 76ers were near full strength with just guard Furkan Korkmaz unavailable.
The 76ers are helmed by All-Stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. Tobias Harris, Danny Green and Seth Curry round out the starting lineup, while decorated veteran Dwight Howard and talented defender Matisse Thybulle come off the bench.
Rockets coach Stephen Silas, who has experience coaching Curry in Dallas, said the 76ers present a multifaceted threat.
“(Curry) can play off the dribble and he can play pick and roll, he can get to the mid-range. He is really, really good,” Silas said. “And then Green, as far as his twoway play, being a very good defender, solid defender and then spot up shooter and not afraid to take the big shots. And then you have, as you said, Thybulle with his defense off the bench, and they’ve added George Hill, who is, you know, just super solid. … And the other guy who is really playing well, who I’ve also coached previously, Dwight Howard. He’s accepted the role that that that they have given him, and he’s flourished in it.
“… So, yes, they do have talent, but they also have immense depth. And that’s what makes them really good.”
Meanwhile, rookie forward KJ Martin was the longest-tenured Rockets player available Wednesday night. With Christian Wood nursing a sore ankle, Kelly Olynyk will be the only center available.
Silas said rotation management would be challenging.
“With basically seven and a half guys, I don’t want to have guys get to run down as a result of the minutes that they could potentially play tonight,” he said. “So it’s going to be interesting. I’ve been working on the rotation and all of that today, but with just having Kelly at the five and Embiid and Dwight Howard at the five for them, it presents quite a challenge.”
Tate out, virus status unknown
Forward Jae’Sean Tate, who on Sunday said it was his goal to play all 72 games in his rookie season, was ruled out of Wednesday’s game because of NBA and NBPA health and safety protocols.
Rockets coach Stephen Silas declined to specify whether Tate tested positive for COVID-19 or posit a timeline for his return. The league announced on Wednesday that four players had tested positive since April 28. Any player who has tested positive or has been identified as having close contact with an infected person is isolated until they have cleared protocols.
Tate has been working as a point forward with the Rockets down to just one point guard, Kevin Porter Jr., making his absence likely to be felt especially hard.
“It’s super unfortunate,” Silas said. “I mean, as far as versatility, he was our No. 1 guy who could kind of plug in all of the spots where people were injured or we needed help.”
The Rockets struggled just to have enough players to play. Guard D. J. Augustin, who has missed the past 11 games with a sprained left ankle, was available, but forward Danuel House Jr. and center Christian Wood were out.
When the Rockets most recently had just seven players, April 24 in Denver, House was in uniform so they could be considered to have their eight necessary to play the game.
The game was the Rockets’ fifth in a row they had at least eight players out. Of the seven who are not on the injury report, guard Armoni Brooks and forward Anthony Lamb, are on two-way contracts with their G League affiliate.
With Tate unavailable, they will use their 38th starting lineup in 66 games.
The Rockets were already without Sterling Brown (sore knee), Dante Exum (right calf strain), Eric Gordon (right groin strain), David Nwaba (right wrist sprain), D.J. Wilson (health and safety protocols) and John Wall (right hamstring strain). House has been out with a sprained right ankle. Wood has missed time with a sore right ankle.
G League guard nearing contract
The Rockets are close to signing free agent guard Khyri Thomas, likely by Friday, to a 10-day contract, a person with knowledge of the move said.
Thomas, a 6-3 guard out of Creighton, would be considered an exception with the Rockets playing with 10 players out on Wednesday. He has begun going through the protocols necessary to be able to play Friday with the Rockets awaiting a ruling from the NBA about when he would be cleared.
Thomas was the 38th pick of the 2018 draft by the Pistons. He played seven games with the Austin Spurs in the G League bubble this season, averaging 13.9 points on 44.4 percent 3-point shooting. In three G League seasons, he averaged 17.7 points, making 44.5 percent of his 3s and 46.8 percent of his shots overall.
The Rockets had three players — Christian Wood, Danuel House Jr. and D.J. Augustin — listed as doubtful to play against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday. Augustin was in uniform to give the Rockets the requirement of eight players to play a game.