Injuries shake up rotation against Bucks

MILWAUKEE — With the Rockets down two starters, they went with a lineup that they not only had not used in the first two games when Bruno Fernando and Eric Gordon were available; they switched to a rotation they had not used in the preseason either.

Usman Garuba, who had not played in the season's first two games, got the start, allowing him to match up with the Bucks' star, Giannis Antetokounmpo and keep second-year center Alperen Sengun in his role coming off the bench.

K.J. Martin, who has been the Rockets' sixth man and had started in the preseason when Gordon was out, started at

Gordon's small forward spot.

The change was brought on by Fernando's sore left knee and the Rockets' caution about playing Gordon in both games of a back-to-back, officially called injury maintenance for his right groin. But the choice was made by matchups, as Rockets coach Stephen Silas said many will be throughout the season.

“We're going to be pretty fluid as far as who we're playing against, who's playing well for our group and who's available,” Silas said.

The Rockets did not have a practice or shootaround to help Daishen Nix and Garuba prepare for their season debut with Nix missing time in the preseason because of a sore back and only returning to practice on

Thursday.

“They've been working so yeah, they should be ready for the moment,” Silas said. “We'll see.”

The Rockets have not determined a timetable for Fernando to return from his sore left knee, but indications were that sitting out Saturday was not a day-to-day situation.

He had started the season's first two games to offer a screen-setting and rim runner at the position along with more physical rebounding and defense. He was hurt in the first half on Friday and left the game minutes into the second half.

“I don't really know how long he's going to be out since he just got injured last night,” Silas said. “We've been gone. They're kind of evaluating that now.”

Early schedule a test for defense

The Rockets earlyseason schedule was certain to test them, not only playing playoff teams from last season, but with their first six games against teams that were in the top five offensively last season. Going into Saturday's games, the Rockets first five opponents across six games (with two games against the Jazz) were a combined 9-0.

Silas said he believed his team was “very different” under duress compared to last season.

“Our competitiveness is at a high level,” Silas said. “We have one year under our belts with experience that we didn't have previously. Our togetherness is much better, … especially in the offense with our ball movement. And when we have those kind of rough moments during the game, our bounce back is much quicker. We don't have the same reaction to adversity that we had in previous years.

“Like in the Atlanta game, we would get down 10 and then we cut it to three. Then, we'd get down nine and we cut it to two. Same thing last night (against Memphis.) They went on a run, and we came right back. It was a two-possession game towards the end of the game. So, our fight back and not really kind of succumbing to the adversity is something that stood out early in the season with this group.”