Due to personal reasons, Rockets forward Danuel House Jr. did not play on Tuesday night in Game 3 of Houston’s second-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Head coach Mike D’Antoni delivered the news in a pregame media session. He did not identify the reason, but said it was not related to COVID-19. He said the team did not know of House’s pending absence at Monday’s practice, which was the only one between Game 2 and Game 3.
In nine playoff games, House is averaging 11.4 points (35.8% on 3-pointers) and 5.8 rebounds in 31.0 minutes per game, and he’s among the most athletic and versatile options for the team’s switch-heavy defense.
In Sunday’s Game 2, the 6-foot-6 forward had 13 points and five rebounds off the bench, and he hit 3-of-7 from 3-point range (42.9%).
Whoa. Danuel House Jr. will not be playing for the #Rockets today, due to personal reasons. It is NOT related to COVID-19.
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) September 8, 2020
Even with House unavailable, D’Antoni indicated to reporters that he was unlikely to expand his rotation, which to this point has consisted of the five starters (Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Eric Gordon, Robert Covington, and P.J. Tucker) and some combination of House, Austin Rivers, Jeff Green, and Ben McLemore off the bench. He said that House’s minutes would be made up by other rotation players playing more.
Game 3 between the Rockets and Lakers tipped off at 8:00 p.m. Central on Tuesday, with a national TV broadcast on TNT.
Houston won’t open the rotation with House being out.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIkoNBA) September 8, 2020
