The struggling and short-handed Houston Rockets lost even more bodies on their recently completed road trip on the West Coast. However, they hope the latest wave of injuries is more temporary.
Veteran guard Sterling Brown (sore left knee) did not play on Monday in Phoenix with what head coach Stephen Silas referred to as a “grade 1 strain.” Brown appears unlikely to return in time for Wednesday’s home game versus Indiana, but he could be back for Friday versus Indiana.
Meanwhile, reserve backcourt mate DJ Augustin left Monday’s game early after spraining his left ankle. He was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the game, which complicates his short-term prognosis.
Understandably, the Rockets lost Monday’s game at Phoenix (38-15), which has the second-best record in the Western Conference. With the loss, Houston (14-40) tied Minnesota for the NBA’s worst mark.
DJ Augustin down with what appears to be a left ankle sprain. Could see the roll on the replay. He's helped off the court with support from the Rockets staff and headed to the locker room.
— Cayleigh Griffin (@cayleighgriffin) April 13, 2021
Brown averages 8.2 points (42.3% on 3-pointers) and 4.4 rebounds in 24.1 minutes, while Augustin is at 9.9 points (36.0% on 3-pointers) and 4.2 assists in 20.4 minutes per game in Houston. Both are among the top 3-point shooters on a team that otherwise struggles in that area.
Brown and Augustin join a long injury report that already includes Eric Gordon (right groin), Danuel House Jr. (right ankle), David Nwaba (right wrist), and Dante Exum (right calf). None are expected to return in the immediate future, with Nwaba likely done for the 2020-21 season.
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Rockets guard Sterling Brown, listed out with left knee soreness, has a grade 1 strain, Rockets coach Stephen Silas. Does not expect him to miss much time, but more likely to return Friday than Wednesday.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) April 13, 2021