Assuming continued negative COVID-19 tests, four quarantined members of the Houston Rockets are set to rejoin the team at Wednesday’s practice and play on Thursday night at home versus Sacramento.
Those players are veteran guards John Wall and Eric Gordon; center DeMarcous Cousins; and rookie Mason Jones. Following contact tracing, all were deemed to be close contacts of a positive case — though to this point, none have tested positive themselves. All are under seven-day quarantines, per the NBA’s new health and safety protocols.
The timetable means that Wall, Gordon, Cousins, and Jones will each miss two games — Saturday night in Portland, and Monday night in Denver. It would have been a three-game absence, but Wednesday’s scheduled game was postponed due to Houston lacking enough active players.
There is no known return date for Ben McLemore and KJ Martin Jr., who each reportedly tested positive for the coronavirus and are self-isolating. However, the shorthanded Rockets should receive a huge boost when the larger group of contact tracing absences is cleared.
DeMarcus Cousins, Eric Gordon, Mason Jones & John Wall are in a seven-day quarantine before they can return to practice, games or team activities. The quarantine will end, and they’ll be available to participate with the team assuming negative testing on Wednesday, per sources.
— Jeff Zillgitt (@JeffZillgitt) December 26, 2020
