There was good news and bad news for the Rockets in Monday’s injury report preceding Houston’s game later in the day at Utah.
The positive development is that the playing status of superstar guard James Harden, who had previously been listed as doubtful for Monday’s game, was upgraded to questionable. Harden is dealing with a left thigh bruise after a collision during Friday’s game in Minnesota.
Harden leads the NBA with a historic average of 36.1 points per game, and the Rockets could certainly use Monday that with backcourt co-star Russell Westbrook out for maintenance. Westbrook played Sunday in Denver and is scheduled to sit out one game of all back-to-backs this season as part of his recovery from offseason knee surgery.
Reserve guard Eric Gordon will presumably start in Westbrook’s place.
The bad news, however, is that center Clint Capela is now doubtful for Monday with a right heel contusion. Capela has had on-again, off-again issues with that heel since late December, and head coach Mike D’Antoni said in early January that back-to-backs were tough on him.
In the 2019-20 season, Capela is averaging 14.2 points (62.8% shooting), 13.9 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks in 33.2 minutes per game as Houston’s starting center. His per-game rebounding total ranks fourth in the league.
If Capela sits out, 21-year-old seven-footer Isaiah Hartenstein would likely start in his place.
Final word on the status of Harden and Capela will likely come when D’Antoni meets with the media about 90 minutes before Monday night’s game, which tips off at 8 p.m. Central time.
On paper, it looks like an very challenging game for the Rockets (28-17), even if both players in question were to play. Houston will be without Westbrook and on night two of a road back-to-back at high altitude, while the Jazz (32-13) are rested and have won 19 of their last 21 games.
