Starting forward Danuel House Jr. sat out a second consecutive game for the Houston Rockets on Wednesday due to a left toe sprain.
Head coach Mike D’Antoni had said Tuesday that he expected House to play, but he said before Wednesday’s tip-off against Indiana that the injury “didn’t respond exactly” as they had hoped.
Nonetheless, it’s still largely a precautionary move, with Houston largely set in its position heading into the 2020 NBA playoffs.
“His toe didn’t respond exactly, but he’s getting better,” D’Antoni said pregame. “It’s just precautionary, and making sure it’s OK.” D’Antoni previously said that House “has a big toe that he stubbed.”
It’s unclear when House suffered the injury, but it’s worth noting that he shot just 2-of-14 (14.3%) on 3-pointers in his most recent two games.
By contrast, in House’s first three games at the NBA’s Disney World “bubble,” House made 18-of-37 (48.6%) from 3-point range.
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For the 2019-20 season, House is averaging 10.5 points (36.3% on 3-pointers) and 4.2 rebounds in 30.4 minutes per game. He’s started 52 of 63 games, and at 6-foot-6, House is one of the most athletic, long, and defensively versatile options for Houston’s small-ball scheme.
Eric Gordon, who is returning from a two-week injury absence due to a sprained left ankle, started in House’s place on Wednesday.
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#Rockets starting lineup today vs. Indiana:
Harden, Gordon, McLemore, Covington, Tucker
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) August 12, 2020