Starting center Christian Wood practiced with the Rockets on Wednesday and said he plans on returning to the Houston lineup in time for Thursday night’s home game versus Portland.
“I’m back, I feel 100 percent, and I’m ready to go tomorrow,” said Wood, who missed Houston’s last three games with a right ankle sprain.
Head coach Stephen Silas said Wood “looked good,” though he noted that Wood would still be listed as questionable for Thursday’s game. However, as long as his ankle doesn’t respond negatively to Wednesday’s increase in physical activity, Silas said the plan is for Wood to play.
Thursday’s tipoff between the Rockets (7-9) and Blazers (9-7) is set for 6:30 p.m. Central at Toyota Center. Houston enters that matchup on a season-long winning streak of three games.
Christian Wood (@Chriswood_5) “I’m back. I feel 100% and I’m ready to go tomorrow…I tried to play on my ankle after I injured it. I don’t know if it was a good idea or a bad idea,but I had to do what’s best for my team.I just needed a little bit of time off just to let it heal” pic.twitter.com/jj4pvtKU8m
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) January 27, 2021
In Wood’s absence, DeMarcus Cousins started at center and averaged 17.3 points (40.9% on 3-pointers), 14.3 rebounds, and 4.7 assists in 31.9 minutes per game. The Rockets won all three of those games.
While Wood is expected to regain his starting position, he said following Wednesday’s practice that he’s hopeful of playing more minutes alongside Cousins, who appears to be gaining momentum. In those lineups, Wood would slide to the power forward slot.
Now 25 years old, Wood is averaging 23.5 points (52.8% FG) and 10.8 rebounds in 33.6 minutes per game this season. If sustained, those numbers could make the 6-foot-10 big man an All-Star candidate.
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Silas said Wood is questionable but that he expects him to play. "If he's good, he's playing." Sounds like he will start since Silas said he will evaluate Wood's condition through the first five minutes. https://t.co/75WgzndJcn
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) January 27, 2021
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