Porter’s progress continues
MILWAUKEE — With Jalen Green set to return to the Rockets’ lineup Thursday in Indianapolis, the other starter in the Rockets backcourt, Kevin Porter Jr., soon could follow.
Porter said he is not close enough to target a game for his return but has been progressing enough in his rehab from a bruised left thigh to step up his workouts, including the three-on-three session he went through Tuesday in Chicago.
“We’re getting there,” Porter said. “It has been a work in progress, but we’ve just been making progress each and every day. I’m feeling good. We’re taking steps forward.
“It’s always hard waiting. Honestly, when it first happens, I feel like it’s the worst because (the rehab) is a long-ball game, but almost being back is a boost of confidence and (to) your self-esteem about everything every day, everything you do daily.”
Porter initially was hurt against the Warriors on Nov. 7 and was hit in the same spot Nov. 15 in Memphis. He said he reaggravated the injury in other games. He left in the first half of games Dec. 1 and Dec. 3, leading to the decision to sit out.
“It just as a workout goes, it gets aggravated and it locks up on me,” Porter said. “So, that’s what we’ve been working on, just … being able to finish the full game.
“We’re not aiming (for any particular game.) We’re just taking it day-byday, letting my body react to all the workouts and take it from there.”
Green’s return on Thursday with Porter’s soon to follow will dramatically alter the rotation with both to reclaim their starting positions.
“We’ll have to make some adjustments but they’re our guys,” Rockets coach Stephen Silas said. “They’re going to come back, and they’re going to start and they’re going to play. The guys who are starting now ( Armoni Brooks and Garrison Mathews) got the experience of getting playing time. We have a better feel for how they can be successful. Hopefully, that leads to our group playing a more cohesive game. When they come back, there may be an adjustment period, mostly for them because they’ve been out for so long.”
Wood’s left knee giving him grief
Center Christian Wood on Tuesday returned to the Rockets’ injury report with tendinitis in his left knee but was cleared to play Wednesday against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Less certain was whether he would be able to also play on Thursday against the Indiana Pacers in the second game of the backto-back or if the soreness in his knee would be an ongoing issue.
Wood, who was listed as questionable to play Wednesday against the Bucks, had hoped to have gotten past the soreness in his knee when he sat out two games last week. He played in the first two games of the road trip, averaging 22 points and 9.5 rebounds against the Pistons and Bulls.
Silas said the recurrence of the issue is “a little bit” of a concern.
“We just have to make sure we’re doing our due diligence when it comes to his treatment and the strength training that needs to go with it, along with the rest,” Silas said. “This is something that we really have to keep an eye on and we will. But we felt like we were by past it a little bit. but obviously we have to keep a close eye on it.
“We have three days (between games) after tomorrow so hopefully, that’ll help.”
Youngsters pass Silas’ history quiz
When the Rockets were given Sunday off from practice, they thought they earned it with their knowledge of basketball history. That was not actually necessary, but Silas allowed his players to enjoy the victory of his trivia challenge.
After the Rockets completed the day’s video session and meeting, Silas said they could skip the day’s planned practice if they could name the top five scorers in NBA history.
Brooks organized a brief meeting to come up with a consensus on the answer, with the Rockets correctly naming Kareem AbdulJabbar, Karl Malone, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan.
“I didn’t think they’d get Karl Malone for some reason,” Silas said. “I think he flies under the radar. But, yeah, they got them. I was surprised.
“It was pretend because of the schedule and everything. I planned on giving them a day off, anyway, but we made this the reason. They needed a day, for sure. There were a few random answers amongst the group. But they came to the right conclusion. The official answer was right.”