Rockets lose starting forward Danuel House Jr. to right ankle sprain

House turned his ankle on a drive to the basket, and the team quickly ruled him out for the remainder of Sunday’s game.

In a 2020-21 season defined by injuries, the Houston Rockets lost another key piece on Sunday night versus New Orleans.

Starting forward Danuel House Jr. went down in the second quarter after turning his right ankle on a drive to the basket. He immediately hopped to the locker room and was quickly ruled out for the rest of the game.

Head coach Stephen Silas will speak postgame for the next update on House’s status. At a bare minimum, it would seem highly unlikely that he plays on Monday night versus Phoenix, since that game is less than 24 hours from when House suffered the injury.

It’s unfortunate timing for the 6-foot-6 forward, who had been playing some of his best basketball of the 2020-21 season. After returning from a right knee contusion on March 17, House shot 55.2% on 3-pointers over the next eight games. The 27-year-old is also one of Houston’s most athletic and defensively versatile players.

For however long House is sidelined, it could mean more available minutes for reserve guards Avery Bradley and DJ Augustin, as well as forwards D.J. Wilson and KJ Martin.

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