Rockets guard Eric Gordon set to return from injury on Wednesday

Gordon: “We’ve been doing a lot around the clock every day with my ankle. This is the most rehab I’ve done in a short amount of time.”

When Eric Gordon sprained his left ankle in a July 28 scrimmage at the NBA “bubble,” the Houston Rockets were reportedly expecting him to miss approximately two weeks with the injury.

As it turns out, that timetable seems to have been spot on.

Head coach Mike D’Antoni said at Monday’s practice that the Rockets were planning on having Gordon play on Wednesday versus Indiana. That is Houston’s first game outside of the two-week window.

“It sucked that it happened,” Gordon said. “Just a freak injury that I landed on somebody’s foot and twisted it pretty good. Now here I am, really getting some live work, so I can incorporate myself into the game.”

Gordon said Monday that he was initially worried that he might have to miss even more time than two weeks. Among his comments:

We’ve been doing a lot around the clock every day with my ankle. This is the most rehab I’ve really done in a short amount of time. It’s been good. I think I’m in a good place to where I can start really pushing it on the floor.

I’m just doing whatever it takes for my ankle to feel OK. We’ve been really trying to force and push the issue on it. I’ve got to follow the timeline my ankle gives me. I’m going to get a couple games in. I look forward to getting better every day.

As he indicated, Gordon’s return on Wednesday would give him two games — that one, and Friday’s regular-season finale versus Indiana — to help knock off any rust before the start of the 2020 NBA playoffs next week. Excluding scrimmages, the 6-foot-3 guard has not played since the 2019-20 season was suspended in March due to COVID-19.

Now 31 years old, Gordon is Houston’s third-leading scorer this season, averaging 14.5 points in 28.6 minutes per game.

In playoff runs from recent seasons, the Rockets depended heavily on Gordon for 3-point shooting and on-ball defense. During their training camp in July, he drew lots of praise from D’Antoni, who said Gordon looked healthier and more explosive than he did before the hiatus.

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