The Houston Rockets absorbed a brutal double whammy of medical news in Wednesday’s game at Oklahoma City, with starting point guard Kevin Porter Jr. (left thigh contusion) and star center Christian Wood (right ankle sprain) each leaving early with concerning injuries.
In both cases, the injury is more concerning because it’s something that has previously caused a multi-game absence. Porter has had off-and-on issues with his thigh since he first bruised in on Nov. 7 at Golden State, and he missed three games to rest the injury late last month. Apparently, that wasn’t enough to fully put it behind the 21-year-old.
Meanwhile, for Wood, it’s the same right ankle that caused him to miss several weeks during the 2020-21 season. When combined with the left hamstring strain suffered last week by rookie guard Jalen Green, Wednesday’s news meant that Houston started the second half without three of its planned five starters for this season. Garrison Mathews, Armoni Brooks, and Daniel Theis began the second half alongside the only remaining usual starters (Jae’Sean Tate and Eric Gordon).
No Wood or KPJ for the rest of the game. Wood is out with a right ankle sprain and KPJ is out with a left thigh contusion.
Theis and Brooks will start the 3rd quarter with Gordon, Tate and Mathews.
— Cayleigh Griffin (@cayleighgriffin) December 2, 2021
Neither injury on Wednesday appeared especially concerning, since both Porter and Wood attempted to return to the game in the second quarter after initially suffering the injury in the first. However, both players didn’t seem to have their usual explosion and did not return after halftime.
The status of both players for Friday’s home game versus Orlando, which is next on Houston’s schedule, is not yet clear. The timing is brutal for the young Rockets (4-16), who had entered Wednesday on a three-game winning streak and playing their best basketball of the season.
Wood entered with averages of 16.8 points and 11.8 rebounds in 32.7 minutes, while Porter is at 13.3 points, 6.1 assists, and 4.8 rebounds in 31.9 minutes. Both of Wood’s figures lead the team in those categories.
