After missing extensive time in Houston’s preseason slate and then the first four games of the 2022-23 regular season with right ankle soreness, veteran forward Jae’Sean Tate is sidelined again for the Rockets after reaggravating the same injury.
Tate, who sat out Monday’s game in Los Angeles against the Clippers, is currently considered day-to-day and will be evaluated further when the team returns to Houston on Tuesday, per Vanessa Richardson of AT&T SportsNet Southwest. Richardson, who works as the new sideline reporter on Rockets television broadcasts, relayed pregame comments made by head coach Stephen Silas.
Now 27 years old, Tate is averaging 8.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 22.7 minutes per game. He’s shot 50.0% overall and 40.0% on 3-pointers, and the burly 6-foot-5 forward is widely regarded as one of Houston’s best and most versatile defensive players.
With Tate sidelined, that could open up more playing time in Houston’s rotation for rookie forward Tari Eason.
The Rockets entered Monday at 1-6 on the season and badly in need of a win to snap their recent slide, punctuated by an 0-3 road trip in its initial three stops of Utah, Portland, and Phoenix.
