After missing the first six games of the 2023-24 NBA season with a stress reaction in his lower left leg, reserve Rockets forward Tari Eason is likely to play Wednesday versus the Los Angeles Lakers.
Eason should play limited minutes, according to an update from head coach Ime Udoka at Tuesday’s practice in Houston.
“It looks like he’s going to play in the 15-minute-ish range,” Udoka said.
Eason averaged 9.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game last season, which earned him All-Rookie second-team honors. Even as a rookie, he was among Houston’s most valuable and versatile defenders.
“It’s going to help our defense a lot,” fellow second-year forward Jabari Smith Jr. said of Eason’s return to the rotation.
“We know what Tari does,” Smith added. “It’s going to up our rebounding. He’s one of the best, or the best, offensive rebounder from his position. His energy, his will, his everything. … It’s just going to help us. We know how much he means to this team, he knows how much he means, and we’re just anxious to have him back.”
The Rockets (3-3) enter Wednesday’s showdown with the Lakers (3-4) on a three-game winning streak. Should they defeat Los Angeles, Houston would be above .500 for the first time since very early in the 2020-21 season. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. Central from Toyota Center.
The #Rockets expect Tari Eason back tomorrow when they host the Lakers at Toyota Center
Tari has been out since early in the preseason with a left lower leg stress reaction@HoustonRockets on Space City Home Network pic.twitter.com/tSfiAdXrgw
— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) November 7, 2023
