In the start of what could be an extended period without starting center Christian Wood, the Houston Rockets are hoping for veteran big man DeMarcus Cousins to pick up much of the slack. His first chance to do so comes Saturday at home versus division rival San Antonio.
While it’s been an up-and-down season for the former All-Star, the optimistic case with Cousins is that he’s generally played better with more minutes. When Wood missed three games with his initial right ankle injury in late January, Cousins started in all three and averaged 17.3 points (40.9% on 3-pointers), 14.3 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game.
Excluding Wood, who reinjured his sprained right ankle on Thursday in Memphis, other Rockets could be more available than they were in recent days. Veteran guards John Wall and Victor Oladipo staggered their planned maintenance absences during Wednesday and Thursday’s road back-to-back, so Saturday’s game will likely be their first time starting together in the backcourt since Monday. That game was a 30-point blowout, in which the Rockets set a new franchise record for 3-pointers.
Wall is officially listed as “questionable” with back spasms, which bothered him during Thursday’s game at Memphis. However, head coach Stephen Silas downplayed the issue postgame and said he was not worried about it. “I asked him about it, he said he was okay,” Silas said.
Rockets list John Wall as questionable with back spasms. He said he was all right last night after some issues following a drive. David Nwaba (sprained ankle) is also questionable. Christian Wood (sprained ankle) is out.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) February 5, 2021
The Rockets are 9-4 when Wall plays this season, and just 2-6 when he sits. Moreover, they are 7-0 when he plays without James Harden, which speaks to the significance of his availability for Saturday’s game. If Wall is unable to play, sixth man Eric Gordon would start in his place.
Meanwhile, defensive ace David Nwaba (left ankle sprain) is also questionable after missing each of the last three games due to injury.
https://embed.sendtonews.com/oembed/?SC=YLWO49wiXU-1140523-7498&format=json&offsetx=0&offsety=0&floatwidth=400&floatposition=bottom-right&float=on
[lawrence-related id=44648,44625]
Here’s when you should tune in to see Saturday’s game, which features two of the top three teams from the NBA’s Southwest Division:
- Date: Saturday, Feb. 6
- Time: 7 p.m. Central
- TV Channel: AT&T SportsNet Southwest
- Live stream: fuboTV (watch for free in Houston markets)
Probable starting lineups
Houston Rockets (11-10)
- Guard: John Wall
- Guard: Victor Oladipo
- Forward: Jae’Sean Tate
- Forward: PJ Tucker
- Center: DeMarcus Cousins
San Antonio Spurs (12-10)
- Guard: Dejounte Murray
- Guard: Derrick White
- Forward: DeMar DeRozan
- Forward: Keldon Johnson
- Center: Jakob Poeltl
The Spurs have a long injury report of their own for Saturday, with LaMarcus Aldridge (hip flexor) and Lonnie Walker IV (stomach illness) both listed as out. Dejounte Murray is questionable with a sore left ankle.
The Rockets and Spurs split a pair of games in San Antonio last month, but Houston was severely short-handed at the time — with Wall, Oladipo, and sixth man Eric Gordon all unavailable. This time, the Rockets enter with seven wins in their last eight games, while the Spurs are 4-4 over that same time span. With a win at Toyota Center, Houston would jump San Antonio in the tightly packed Southwest Division race.
Note: This post first appeared on Rockets Wire. Follow us on Facebook!
https://embed.sendtonews.com/oembed/?SC=7VHwLhSqkI-1138498-7498&format=json&offsetx=0&offsety=0&floatwidth=400&floatposition=bottom-right&float=on
[lawrence-related id=44655,44457]
[listicle id=44621]