Green not close to returning

After one week of rehab and slow progress, Rockets rookie Jalen Green is not close to returning from his hamstring injury.

“Nothing really new,” Rockets coach Stephen Silas said on Friday. “He is still injured. He is progressing in a good manner but slowly. We’re just going to continue to evaluate weekby-week. But he’s not going to play any time soon.”

Green strained his right hamstring Nov. 24 in the Rockets’ win against the Chicago Bulls, the game that ended their 15-game losing streak and began a four-game winning streak heading into Friday’s game against the Orlando Magic. He made 4 of 5 shots, scoring 11 points in 10 ½ minutes in that game and averaged 14.4 points on 48.1 percent shooting in his past games.

Green has averaged 14 points on 38.2 percent shooting, 27.8 percent 3-point shooting in his 18 games.

Augustin returns from protocols

Had he not been wearing a mask, there would have been no indications of what it took for guard D.J. Augustin to have been cleared to return to the Rockets for Friday’s game against the Orlando Magic, his former team.

He had missed the previous two games while in health and safety protocols after his daughter Kailey, 9, had contracted COVID. Fully vaccinated, Augustin would not have been forced to sit out for contact tracing but after several days producing negative tests, a test was inconclusive. That required that Augustin produce two more negative tests 24 hours apart to be cleared to play.

His daughter, with generally mild symptoms, had become stir crazy. Her father, before a series of negative tests cleared him to play, felt the same way.

“It’s been tough,” Augustin said. “A lot of testing, trying to keep my daughter isolated, in her own room, just trying to stay away from the family, which is hard, too.

“It’s been rough but just trying to get through it so I get back with the team.”

His daughter, he said, “is just bored more than anything. Her symptoms are mild. She’s stuck in her room but other than that, she’s been good.”

The Rockets won each of the two games Augustin missed but starting point guard Kevin Porter Jr. had left Wednesday’s game with a bruised thigh, making Augustin’s absence particularly conspicuous. Porter is listed as questionable for Friday’s game.

“I actually had two negative tests before the inconclusive one came,” Augustin said. “I never felt like I had it. I never had any symptoms. I still don’t. Just keep testing negative and keep staying away from my daughter until she’s able to come out of her room.

“I’ve been able to do my stuff with my mask on. Just try to stay active and not sit around so I can come back and still be in shape.”