After expressing optimism earlier this week that Wednesday could be a potential return date for starting point guard Kevin Porter Jr., Houston Rockets head coach Stephen Silas backtracked before the game against Charlotte. Silas said Porter remained hobbled by a left foot contusion and would not play.
Porter, who suffered the injury on Jan. 11 in Sacramento, has missed four games. According to Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle, Porter is still having trouble pushing off his big toe, and until that pain subsides, he cannot play. Silas said there is no timetable for Porter’s return to the Rockets.
As the starter at point guard for 40 games, Porter has averaged 19.2 points (43.6% FG, 34.6% on 3-pointers), 5.6 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 3.6 turnovers in 34.0 minutes per game this season.
KJ Martin has effectively replaced Porter in Houston’s starting lineup over the past week, and Jalen Green and Eric Gordon have moved down a position. In the absence of a typical point guard, Silas and the Rockets have run more offense through big man Alperen Sengun, who is coming off a career game in Los Angeles with 33 points, 15 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 blocked shots.
Kevin Porter Jr is out tonight vs Charlotte
He will miss his 4th straight game with a left foot contusion
Stephen Silas had this update before the game@HoustonRockets #Rockets @creditkarma pic.twitter.com/g0kUE5tHiu
— AT&T SportsNet™ | SW (@ATTSportsNetSW) January 18, 2023
[lawrence-related id=109592,109463]
[mm-video type=video id=01gphsas3a984q9jb4rm playlist_id=none player_id=01eqbvq570kgj8vfs7 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gphsas3a984q9jb4rm/01gphsas3a984q9jb4rm-bff0245127e839f8e59d8c3e658575ac.jpg]
[listicle id=109521]