Both the Spurs and Rockets are without a key frontcourt starter for Tuesday night’s clash between division rivals in San Antonio.
Houston (13-6) is missing 26-year-old swingman Danuel House Jr. for a second consecutive game due to illness, which the native Houstonian characterized as the flu in an Instagram post over the weekend.
House was upgraded from doubtful to questionable earlier in the day, but the Rockets opted to err on the side of caution. Starting center Clint Capela did return Tuesday after a two-game illness absence, and if House follows a similar timetable, he could make his return Thursday in Toronto.
D'Antoni was at least hopeful that House could return on Thursday. https://t.co/Gh8rH5PPzL
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) December 4, 2019
Over the 2019-20 season to date, House has been one of Houston’s best shooters and wing defenders. He averages 12.4 points in 29.7 minutes per game on 47.4% shooting overall and 44.4% from three-point range. His athleticism and length at 6-foot-6 is also important, considering that Houston’s alternative options are somewhat undersized.
With House out, former 2013 NBA Draft lottery pick Ben McLemore again starts in his place for the Rockets. The smaller 6-foot-3 guard was excellent as a starter Saturday versus Atlanta, posting season-highs of 24 points, 13 rebounds, and six made three-pointers.
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Meanwhile, the Spurs (7-14) are without 6-foot-11 center LaMarcus Aldridge, who missed his second consecutive game with a thigh injury.
The seven-time All-Star had 17 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists in an impressive 10-point home victory by the Spurs over the Los Angeles Clippers last Friday. Then, with Aldridge sidelined on Sunday, the Spurs lost by a whopping 34 points in Detroit.
#Spurs have downgraded Aldridge (sore right thigh) from questionable to OUT for tonight vs. Houston. It's the first time he's missed consecutive games since he sat out Feb. 12-13, 2018 to receive treatment on his chronically sore right knee prior to the All-Star break.
— Tom Orsborn (@tom_orsborn) December 3, 2019
With Aldridge out, Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich is starting young Austrian big man Jakob Poeltl at center.
Tuesday’s game is the first of four between the Texas rivals this season, with San Antonio paying a return visit to Houston on Monday, Dec. 16.
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