For the first time in 76 games over two seasons, big man Christian Wood did not start for the Houston Rockets on Saturday versus Denver. Making matters more concerning, it was not for basketball reasons.
In postgame comments, head coach Stephen Silas said Wood was disciplined for violating team rules. Wood played eight minutes off the bench in the first half, going scoreless with 1 rebound, and Houston was -17 in that time period during a 124-111 home loss (box score). Wood did not return after halftime, though he was present on the team’s bench.
“We’re basically going to keep that internal,” Silas said postgame of the situation with Wood. “But he broke a team rule, I didn’t start him, and decided not to play him in the second half.”
Stephen Silas on why Christian Wood was not in the starting lineup: “He broke a team rule and I didn’t start him and then we decided not to play him in the second half.” pic.twitter.com/7TFQHFa8qK
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) January 2, 2022
Now 26 years old, Wood averaged a team-high 17.3 points (47.3% FG) and 10.6 rebounds in 31.5 minutes per game entering Saturday. He’s a potential trade candidate for the Rockets leading up to the NBA’s Feb. 10 deadline for moves in the 2021-22 season, and the strange scene on Saturday at Toyota Center is likely to further add to that speculation.
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Wood threw his towel at a bench chair in frustration and had his hand on his head for several seconds. He’s definitely upset
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) January 2, 2022
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