Houston Rockets guard Eric Gordon will miss Tuesday’s home game versus the Boston Celtics due to his lower left leg contusion.
The 31-year-old also sat out Sunday’s home loss to Utah and had a wrap around his shin in the locker room. He said the injury, which occurred two weeks ago, had progressively become more painful.
Gordon had recently been starting at small forward for the Rockets. In his absence Sunday, the Rockets started newcomer Robert Covington, who is likely to again get the start against the Celtics.
Head coach Mike D’Antoni updated Gordon’s status at Monday’s practice from Toyota Center, where the Rockets (33-20) and visiting Celtics (37-15) will tip off at 8:30 p.m. Central time on Tuesday night. The game will be televised nationally on TNT.
Eric Gordon is out against the Celtics on Tuesday night, according to Mike D’Antoni.
— Michael Shapiro (@mshap2) February 10, 2020
Mike D’Antoni expect Eric Gordon to be out until after the All-Star break.
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) February 10, 2020
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The injury occurred in the Jan. 27 game at Utah, which was when Gordon scored a career-high 50 points and led the short-handed Rockets to an unexpected win without both James Harden and Russell Westbrook.
According to D’Antoni, Gordon was accidentally kicked in the leg during that game, which led to the contusion.
Gordon said Sunday that the injury isn’t anything serious, but it’s progressively tightened up in the games since then. “Each game it’s been getting worse and worse,” said Gordon, who played only nine minutes before leaving early during Friday night’s loss at Phoenix.
Eric Gordon (@TheofficialEG10) got kicked in left shin during game he scored 50 at Utah, tried to play thru it.Says it’s nothing serious:”It’s been tightening up.Each game it’s been getting worse&worse.I got to treat it day to day &hopefully it gets better as quickly as possible” pic.twitter.com/F66UXew1gc
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) February 9, 2020
He didn’t think about coming out in Utah, though, given his career-high outburst of 50 points. “Adrenaline kicks in,” Gordon said with a smile.
The injury could help explain a sudden downturn in his performance from that point forward. In Gordon’s first 13 games since returning from right knee surgery on Dec. 29, Gordon averaged 20.0 points in 30.4 minutes per game on 39.8% shooting from 3-point range.
In six games since the shin injury in Utah, Gordon has averaged 11.5 points in 27.2 minutes on just 22.2% 3-point shooting. The shin injury is to his left leg, which is not the one that had the surgical procedure.
Mike D’Antoni says @TheofficialEG10 got kicked in the lower left leg (contusion) a few games ago and it hasn’t improved. Considered day to day. https://t.co/VTcSb8ohBq
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) February 9, 2020
Considering Tuesday is Houston’s the final game before the All-Star break, resting Gordon against the Celtics will buy him nearly two full weeks without having to play in a game on the injury.
After the All-Star break of more than a week, Houston resumes play on Thursday, Feb. 20 against the Warriors (12-41) in San Francisco. Based on comments at Monday’s practice, it sounds as if the expectation is for Gordon to be available at that time.
[lawrence-related id=24476,24368]
#Rockets guard Eric Gordon, who has a wrap on his bruised left shin, says the injury bothers him when he tries to drive or explode near the rim.
He was hurt in Utah when he scored 50, but there was no way he was coming out then. “Adrenaline kicks in.”
It’s gotten worse since. pic.twitter.com/Co6cYDb8rD
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) February 9, 2020