Clint Capela, Danuel House Jr. doubtful for Saturday due to illness

Clint Capela and Danuel House Jr. (ill) are doubtful, with Tyson Chandler and Ben McLemore likely to start in their place for the Rockets.

The Houston Rockets could be without two starters for Saturday’s home game versus the Atlanta Hawks.

Starting center Clint Capela and small forward Danuel House Jr. are each doubtful due to illness, head coach Mike D’Antoni said at practice Friday. Capela also missed Wednesday’s win over Miami for the same reason.

The Rockets (12-6) are significant favorites over the Hawks (4-14), who entered Friday tied for the worst record in the Eastern Conference. That could present the team with an opportunity to be more conservative in their treatment of injured or sick players.

Veteran Tyson Chandler would start in Capela’s place if the 25-year-old is unable to go — just as he did Wednesday. Young prospects Isaiah Hartenstein and Gary Clark could also figure into the mix.

Clark added 12 points and eight rebounds in 28 impressive minutes off the bench Wednesday, while Hartenstein had 16 rebounds in 30 minutes on Nov. 16 when Capela missed a game in Minnesota.

In his sixth season, Capela is averaging 14.6 points, 14.7 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks in 31.9 minutes per game this year, and he’s on a historic rebounding run with at least 19 boards in his last seven games played. Those are large shoes to fill for any of his potential replacements.

Prior to Capela’s current streak, the only NBA player to have at least 19 rebounds in seven straight games was rebounding legend and Basketball Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman, who last did it in the 1994-95 season.

The only player in Rockets franchise history to have posted averages of at least 14 points, 14 rebounds, and two blocks per game in a single season was Hakeem Olajuwon, who did it 30 years ago in the 1989-90 season.

Meanwhile, Ben McLemore would likely start in the place of House. McLemore scored 14 points and hit 4-of-9 (44.4%) from three-point range when House missed a game last Friday at the Los Angeles Clippers.

But at 6-foot-3, McLemore isn’t as long or as versatile defensively as the 6-foot-6 House. House also has the advantage as a shooter, with the native Houstonian connecting on 42.4% of his three-point attempts this season — as compared to 29.1% for McLemore.

Further down the bench, starting McLemore for House could also present a rotation opportunity for veteran forward Thabo Sefolosha or rookie guard Chris Clemons to help fill McLemore’s usual bench minutes.

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