After Sunday’s short-handed loss to Boston, the Houston Rockets are hoping to be back to nearly full strength when they finish a three-game homestand on Wednesday night versus Portland.
Second-year forward Tari Eason (left lower leg injury management) remains out, but Fred VanVleet, Jabari Smith Jr. and Jeff Green are expected to return versus the Trail Blazers after missing the second half of Houston’s weekend back-to-back with minor injuries.
The Rockets (20-22) are 3-7 in their last 10 games, but they’re entering a weaker stretch of their schedule. After ending this homestand versus the Trail Blazers (12-31), Houston has a road back-to-back on Friday and Saturday at Charlotte (10-31) and Brooklyn (17-25).
Thus, on paper, it’s an opportunity for Houston to make up ground and atone for some of those recent struggles. The Rockets will also have a rest advantage versus Portland, which will be on the second night of a road back-to-back after losing at Oklahoma City on Tuesday night.
Jabari Smith Jr, Fred VanVleet and Jeff Green, who were all out on Sunday, practiced today. Rockets coach Ime Udoka said he expects them to play tomorrow vs. Portland. Tari Eason went through parts of practice but is headed to a "week-to-week" ramp up after being out so long.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) January 23, 2024
When and How to Watch
- Date: Wednesday, Jan. 24
- Time: 7 p.m. Central
- TV Channel: Space City Home Network, NBA League Pass
- Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free in Houston markets)
Probable starting lineups
Houston Rockets (20-22)
- Guard: Fred VanVleet
- Guard: Jalen Green
- Forward: Dillon Brooks
- Forward: Jabari Smith Jr.
- Center: Alperen Sengun
Portland Trail Blazers (12-31)
- Guard: Malcolm Brogdon
- Guard: Anfernee Simons
- Forward: Jabari Walker
- Forward: Jerami Grant
- Center: Deandre Ayton
If Jalen Green (illness, questionable) is unable to play, rookie guards Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore would see increased minutes for Houston, with one of the two likely to start.
Injury reports
Houston’s injury report lists Victor Oladipo (left patellar tendon repair) and Tari Eason (left leg injury management) as out, while Jalen Green (illness) and Reggie Bullock (lower back strain) are questionable. Nate Hinton and Jermaine Samuels Jr. are in the NBA G League.
The Blazers are not required to issue a report until a few hours before tipoff, owing to the back-to-back. On Tuesday, Portland was without Shaedon Sharpe (lower abdominal strain), Robert Williams III (right knee ligament tear) and Moses Brown (left wrist fracture).
Jan. 24 uniform choices
- Rockets: Black Statement Edition
- Trail Blazers: Red Statement Edition
Here are the #Rockets uniform records as we are just past the halfway point of the season. pic.twitter.com/Nr3e3oFtyk
— Rockets Tracker 🚀 (@RocketsTracker) January 23, 2024
Latest interviews
Ime Udoka & Fred VanVleet talked the growth of Amen Thompson after practice today
The #Rockets rookie is coming off a 15 PT/14 REB game Monday against the Celtics@HoustonRockets back in action tomorrow against Portland pic.twitter.com/88kT6xFLnR
— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) January 23, 2024
