Gordon back in lineup after groin tightness
PHILADELPHIA — Rockets guard Eric Gordon returned to the starting lineup Monday against Philadelphia after missing Saturday’s game with tightness in his right groin.
But after the issue returned in the second half of a back-to-back, it could be something the Rockets will have to monitor after his groin injury last season led the Rockets to hold him out of one game in their first three back-tobacks this season.
“Great concern. No. A concern? Yes,” Rockets coach Stephen Silas said. “We’re hoping that it’s just a thing that happens after he plays and hopefully the back to backs will be able to play some of them, but we’re going to be super cautious because we need him for the season. So yeah, we’re going to be cautious. There is concerned at some level, but … if we were that concerned, then it would be ‘let’s shut them down.”
Gordon’s situation is not the only concern. While guard D.J. Augustin and forward Garrison Mathews were cleared from health and safety protocols, neither could practice before playing. Because of ongoing COVID cases, the Rockets have not been permitted by NBA health and safety rules to practice or hold a shootaround since Dec. 26.
“It’s crazy,” Silas said. “We haven’t practiced. We haven’t had shootaround. We haven’t even been able to … go in and shoot or do anything until you’re cleared. So, we did the same thing with Jae’Sean, and he played great the other night. So, as a result, we’ll give these guys a shot, but I would understand if they weren’t necessarily 100 percent in rhythm to play.”
Garbua placed in health protocols
Rockets center/forward Usman Garuba was placed in the NBA health and safety protocols Monday afternoon, making him unavailable to play against the 76ers, a particularly difficult turn of
events for the rookie given the timing.
Garuba was expected to play an increased role with starting center Christian Wood suspended for one game and the 76ers using a traditional big man at center off the bench, Andre Drummond.
Garuba has not played in 10 games this season, not including the six games he missed with a bruised right thigh that also kept him out of play in the G League.
In six games with Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Garuba averaged 9.3 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, making 71.4 percent of his shots.
He has averaged 6.8 points and 11.2 rebounds per 36 minutes played with the Rockets, but has averaged just 7.2 minutes, almost entirely in bench-clearing situations.
With Daniel Theis on Monday starting a second-consecutive game at center, the Rockets were left to use a combination of the 6-foot-6 K.J. Martin and 6-4 Jae’Sean Tate as backup centers in small-ball lineups.
The Rockets were already without guard Armoni Brooks and 10-day contract addition DeJon Jarreau in health and safety protocols.
In addition to Wood, guard Kevin Porter Jr. is suspended for Monday’s game following incidents on Saturday.
Philly rematch to take place Jan. 24 at home
The Rockets and 76ers will play a rematch of Monday’s game sooner than expected. The NBA moved the game originally set for Jan. 24 to next Monday in Toyota Center.
The 76ers are among the teams that had games postponed because of the outbreak of COVID cases around the league. Other rescheduled games would have had the Sixers playing on threeconsecutive nights without the change in the schedule with the Rockets game.
The change will add a back-toback to the Rockets schedule with the Rockets playing the Timberwolves on Sunday in Toyota Center the night before they will now face the 76ers prior to starting a five-game road trip.
Moving the game from Jan. 24, however, will open a three-day break in the schedule and remove a back-to-back. The Rockets were to player the 76ers the night before playing the Spurs, also in Toyota Center.