Second-year shooting guard Jalen Green is not listed on Houston’s injury report, meaning he will return to the lineup when the Rockets host the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday at Toyota Center.
Green, who leads Houston in scoring at 21.8 points per game, hasn’t played since straining his left groin on Feb. 15 in Oklahoma City. But he practiced over this past weekend, and head coach Stephen Silas indicated to reporters that Green’s return was very close.
Now, as Houston returns home for the first time since Feb. 8, the team will not have to wait any longer. The Rockets (13-47), who own the NBA’s worst record, certainly will not mind the help as they look to snap an ongoing losing streak of nine games and counting.
Meanwhile, Kevin Porter Jr., who usually starts alongside Green in Houston’s backcourt, could make his return, as well. Porter hasn’t played since sustaining a left foot injury on Jan. 11 in Sacramento, but he’s listed by the Rockets as questionable for Tuesday night.
Jalen Green (left groin strain) will return to the #Rockets lineup on Tuesday versus Denver.
Kevin Porter Jr. (left foot contusion) is questionable.
Jae’Sean Tate (right ankle injury maintenance) is out on night one of the back-to-back.
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) February 27, 2023
If Porter doesn’t play, it could be precautionary, since the Rockets are navigating a back-to-back. In that scenario, Porter’s return on Wednesday versus Memphis would seem quite plausible.
Porter, who starts at point guard when healthy, is Houston’s assists leader at 5.6 per game while ranking No. 2 in scoring at 19.2 points.
At full strength, Porter and Green will replace TyTy Washington and Jae’Sean Tate in the starting lineup, with Houston starting its usual guards alongside a frontcourt of KJ Martin, Jabari Smith Jr., and Alperen Sengun. It’s likely both Porter and Green will have a minutes limitation given their multiweek absences, though Silas has yet to specify what that limit will be.
