The Houston Rockets don’t have a traditional center in their smaller lineups, but that doesn’t mean they lack rim protection.
Newcomer Robert Covington, who happens to be Houston’s tallest player in the starting lineup at 6-foot-7, has blocked 11 shots combined over the team’s last three games — all wins by the Rockets.
In 48 games with Minnesota this season, Covington blocked just 0.9 shots per game. But with the Rockets in need of additional rim protection amid the absence of a true center, Covington has boosted his total to an average of 2.3 blocks over his six games to date in Houston.
Utah big man Rudy Gobert was the victim Saturday, with Covington blocking him three times in a 10-point road win by the Rockets.
Covington also secured a game-high 12 rebounds, which helped the undersized lineup stay competitive on the glass with only a four-rebound deficit (46-42, Utah). Gobert had just six boards in 34 minutes.
Through six games with the Rockets, Covington is averaging 12.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks in 31.8 minutes per game, and he remains one of the team’s best and most versatile defenders.
With Saturday’s victory, the Rockets (36-20) have won seven of their last nine games overall, and they’ve moved into the top four of the Western Conference standings — which would mean home-court advantage in at least the first round of the 2020 NBA playoffs.
Covington and the Rockets will look to keep their momentum rolling when they host the New York Knicks (17-39) on Monday night at Toyota Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Central time.
