Another day off
Weather forces Rockets to postpone second game.
The Rockets’ game on Saturday against the Indiana Pacers was “postponed due to government shutdown of Toyota Center because of severe weather conditions in Houston,” the league announced.
The decision comes after Friday’s game against Dallas also was postponed. There was optimism, however, that the Rockets will be able to play the Chicago Bulls on Monday at Toyota Center.
“Feeling pretty good about (playing on) Monday,” Rockets coach Stephen Silas said. “As far as the hour to hour updates with this situation … we have had to recalibrate a few times.”
The Rockets announced that the decision was made in consultation with Houston mayor Sylvester Turner “due to utility shortages and other issues in the area caused by inclement weather this week.”
Ticket holders for the games postponed this weekend will be contacted by Rockets representatives.
The Rockets have had three games postponed that will need to be rescheduled in the secondhalf schedule to be released within the next week. The scheduled season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder was postponed when the Rockets did not have enough players to play because of NBA health and safety protocols.
Silas makes most of extended break
With the weekend backto-back postponed, the Rockets began what amounts to an in-season mini-camp, scheduling three days of practices that will match as many full practices as they have had in the previous month.
Forward P.J. Tucker, who missed the previous two games with a bruised thigh, practiced on Friday. Guard Victor Oladipo, who missed three games with a strained right foot, went through an individual workout but is expected to practice in the weekend.
“We’re going to use it,” Rockets coach Stephen Silas said. “We’re going to take lemons and make lemonade. We’re going to practice and get better organized and let guys who have been injured get back healthy and actually have some practices. We had a good practice, got a lot done, more than we usually would have got down with a game tomorrow. (Saturday) we’ll go a little bit harder and get live.”
Center agrees to two-way deal
Looking for center help with Christian Wood out, the Rockets signed Justin Patton to a two-way contract and called him up from the G League in time for Friday’s practice.
Patton, 6-11, has been playing for the Westchester Knicks in the G League, averaging 8.3 points and 6.3 rebounds in 23.8 minutes per game in three games this season. Patton has averaged 11.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists and two blocks in 83 career games in the G League.
Patton arrived at Toyota Center about an hour before Friday’s practice, allowing almost no time to familiarize himself with the Rockets’ system before the workout.
“He was good in practice,” Rockets coach Stephen Silas said. “He is really a big guy and moves well on the floor. He rolls in pick-and-roll. He can pop a little bit. He’s excited to be here. A lot of it has to do with having an opportunity to play here. I’m sure a lot of it has to do with getting out of the … G League bubble.
“He is long, talented. Defensively, he was good today as far as his help. Offensively, he picked things up so quickly, quicker than I ever thought he would.”
Patton played just nine games with the Timberwolves, 76ers and Thunder in his first three NBA seasons. His career had been sidetracked when he broke his left foot before his rookie season and his right foot during a workout before his second NBA season.