At least for the time being, James Harden isn’t the only former All-Star guard to be away from the Rockets. With John Wall, however, Houston’s hope is that he could return to the team much sooner.
Wall is listed as out for Thursday night’s game in San Antonio with left knee soreness. With Harden also out and Eric Gordon questionable (left lower leg tightness), it’s an open question as to who starts in Thursday’s backcourt for the Rockets. Houston (3-6) is badly in need of a win, since the team is coming off four losses in its last five games.
Wall is averaging 18.6 points, 5.1 assists, and 4.7 steals per game this season. However, the 6-foot-4 guard struggled in Tuesday’s blowout loss to the Los Angeles Lakers with 10 points on 4-of-11 shooting.
Gordon was more efficient on Tuesday, scoring 13 points (50% FG) in 21 minutes off the bench. The former NBA Sixth Man of the Year was listed as questionable going in with the same injury designation, which could offer hope for his availability on Thursday versus the Spurs.
Rockets might be a tad shorthanded on Thursday. John Wall is out with left knee soreness, Eric Gordon is questionable with lower leg tightness and James Harden is …
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) January 13, 2021
Wall didn’t mention the injury in postgame comments on Tuesday, and Houston head coach Stephen Silas also didn’t bring it up in his media availability after Wednesday’s practice. That would seem to suggest that it isn’t viewed as a major concern moving forward.
While Wall did miss most of the last two NBA seasons with injuries, those were due to issues with his foot — which is not a part of this injury.
Thursday’s tipoff between the Rockets and Spurs (6-5) is set for 6:30 p.m. Central, with the game aired nationally on TNT.
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