After a 22-game absence, Houston Rockets guard Eric Gordon is set to return to game action on Sunday night in New Orleans.
Head coach Mike D’Antoni announced the news at Friday’s practice in Houston, where Gordon was a full participant.
With starting point guard Russell Westbrook likely to miss Sunday’s game as part of his maintenance plan on back-to-backs, it’s an ideal spot for Gordon to return to help fill those minutes.
And after losing Wednesday at Golden State (8-24) as a significant favorite, the Rockets (21-10) would prefer not to let another game versus a lesser opponent such as the Pelicans (9-23) slip away.
Eric Gordon will return to the floor on Sunday in New Orleans, according to head coach Mike D’Antoni.
Russell Westbrook will sit on the second night of a back-to-back.
— Michael Shapiro (@mshap2) December 27, 2019
Eric Gordon on his return and going against the defenses the Rockets saw on Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/lEiTj7HlwN
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) December 27, 2019
Now 31 years old, Gordon has been out since Nov. 13 after undergoing surgery on his right knee, which likely contributed to Gordon’s much worse than expected start to the 2019-20 season.
In nine games in October and November, the 6-foot-3 guard shot 30.9% overall and 28.4% from three-point range. Both figures are well below the 41.4% and 36.4% percentages logged over Gordon’s first three seasons in Houston, and his points per game average dipped from 16.8 over his initial three years to 10.9 this season.
Eric Gordon back at #Rockets practice. pic.twitter.com/yEGiFsWaty
— Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) December 27, 2019
Now in his fourth season in Houston, Gordon has averaged 16.6 points (36.1% on three-pointers) in 31.2 minutes per game with the Rockets. He won the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year Award back in 2016-17, his first season with the team, before starting most games in 2018-19 at small forward. However, D’Antoni appears set this season on starting Danuel House Jr. there, which makes his teamyounger, taller, and more athletic.
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Gordon signed a multi-year contract extension in September, which keeps him under contract through at least the 2022-23 season. The timing of that deal makes him ineligible to be traded this season.
Gordon had 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting (54.5%) in a Houston victory at New Orleans on Nov. 11, including 4-of-7 (57.1%) from three-point range. That was his last game prior to the medical procedure.
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