Rockets ankle sprains: Steven Adams plays, Alperen Sengun to miss time

4 days ago 2

During separate games last week, Houston Rockets centers Steven Adams and Alperen Sengun each suffered a sprained right ankle.

Adams’ injury came during a home victory last Monday versus Indiana, while Sengun’s occurred in Saturday’s loss at Dallas.

Based on that five-day time gap and what appears to be a more minor sprain, Adams is first in line to return. Prior to this Monday’s home game versus the Phoenix Suns, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka confirmed that Adams would return to the lineup and start.

Meanwhile, Sengun is expected to miss at least 10 days, which would seemingly represent a more moderate sprain. That would potentially put Sengun in line to return in mid-January (schedule).

Sengun, 23, is averaging 21.8 points (51.2% FG), 9.0 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game this season, and he appears likely to earn his second career NBA All-Star selection. Adams, 32, is averaging 6.0 points (49.1% FG) and 8.4 rebounds (4.4 offensive) in 21.7 minutes.

While neither of those injuries is considered long-term in nature, the short-term absences have opened up more minutes for third-string veteran Clint Capela.

In his last three outings — which all occurred with Houston down at least one of its two primary centers — Capela has averaged 6.0 points (50.0% FG), 7.7 rebounds (3.7 offensive), 2.0 steals, and 1.3 blocks in 19.3 minutes.

Starting Dec. 27, Sengun has missed four of Houston’s most recent five games (excluding the one minute he played versus the Mavericks) with either left calf tightness or his current right ankle sprain. With Adams playing, the Rockets won their first two Sengun-less outings before dropping the third in Dallas (when Adams sat out).

The fourth will be determined later Monday night versus the Suns (21-14). With tipoff at 7:00 p.m. Central, Houston (21-11) enters with a 10-1 mark in its last 11 home games at Toyota Center.

More: Rockets (21-11) lose in Dallas as Alperen Sengun sprains right ankle

This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Rockets ankle sprains: Steven Adams plays, Alperen Sengun to miss time

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