Welcome back from the All-Star Break! Hope everyone enjoyed All-Star weekend, but now we are back to Houston Rockets basketball. Thursday was Houston’s first practice, and it brought with it some important roster and injury-related news.
Jabari Smith Jr. makes his return vs. Timberwolves
After 22 missed games Rocket’s forward Jabari Smith Jr. makes his return tonight versus the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Head coach Ime Udoka said that Jabari Smith Jr., who has missed the last 22 games for Houston, is cleared to return immediately. The third-year power forward hasn’t played since breaking a bone in his left hand at a Jan. 3 shootaround, and the team’s defense and rebounding has plummeted in his absence. The Rockets were 22-11 (.667) with Smith, who at 6-foot-10 provides a long and lanky frontcourt presence, and are 12-10 (.545) without him.
Before his January injury, Smith was Houston’s starter at power forward. It isn’t yet clear if he will reclaim that spot, since replacement Amen Thompson performed very well in Smith’s absence.
“Don’t care if I start or not, I’m just ready to play,” said Smith,
Additionally, Jabari won’t be on any kind of restrictions related to minutes or back-to-back usage. Because Smith’s injury wasn’t to his lower body and was on his left, non-shooting hand, he was able to stay in shape and participate in some shooting drills during his absence from game action, which simplified the ramping-up process.
Udoka would not commit to his team’s full-strength starting lineup during Thursday’s practice since veteran point guard Fred VanVleet (right ankle strain) is still doubtful. Thompson would start at point guard in VanVleet’s absence, freeing up forward spots for Smith and Dillon Brooks. Thompson would join Smith, Brooks, and reserve Tari Eason in the forward mix if VanVleet made a comeback.
The Rockets (34-21, No. 4 in the Western Conference standings) meet the Minnesota Timberwolves (31-25, No. 7 in the West) at home on Friday night in what might be a preview of the playoffs. ESPN will broadcast the game to a nationwide television audience, and the game will kick off from Toyota Center at 8:30 p.m. Central.
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