Rockets notes: Usman Garuba sidelined, Eric Gordon back, 76ers rematch moved to Jan. 10

On a busy day in Houston Rockets news, with a clear emphasis on the suspensions to Christian Wood and Kevin Porter Jr., one potential beneficiary was poised to be rookie forward Usman Garuba.

Only 19 years old, Garuba is the lone rookie from Houston’s four first-round selections in the 2021 NBA draft who has yet to receive major playing time with the Rockets. But with Wood and fellow big man Alperen Sengun (right ankle sprain), Garuba looked to be next in line for minutes (after veteran Daniel Theis) among Houston’s frontcourt players.

Unfortunately, only minutes before tipoff between the Rockets and 76ers, Garuba was ruled out due to the league’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols. He joins teammates Armoni Brooks and DeJon Jarreau (hardship exception) on that list. To this point, none have clear return timetables — though recently relaxed rules by the NBA could allow them to return as soon as later this week, pending future testing results.

Here’s a rundown of what else we learned Monday.

Usman Garuba to health and safety protocols

While Garuba has played only sparingly with the Rockets and typically in blowout situations, he has averaged 9.3 points (71.4% FG), 9.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in 24.1 minutes per game with the Vipers. The 6-foot-8 forward is regarded as one of Houston’s best defensive prospects.

Eric Gordon returns to lineup

After missing Saturday’s home loss to Denver on night two of a back-to-back, veteran guard Eric Gordon returned to Houston’s starting lineup on Monday night in Philadelphia. He was listed as questionable to play going in due to right hamstring tightness. Now 33 years old, Gordon is averaging 14.6 points and 3.5 assists in 29.4 minutes per game, and he is Houston’s top 3-point shooter at 44.7% on the season.

Rockets-76ers rematch in Houston moved to Jan. 10

While the Rockets were in Philadelphia on Monday to face Joel Embiid and the 76ers, the return visit in Houston was scheduled for later in the month on Monday, Jan. 24. It will now come much sooner than that.

Due to the NBA’s rescheduling of certain games postponed by COVID-19 issues, the 76ers-Rockets game at Toyota Center will now be played on Monday, Jan. 10, with the same 7:00 p.m. CST start time.

Though the game was not originally postponed, Philadelphia is making up one of its postponed games against another team on Jan. 25, and they already gave a game scheduled at San Antonio on Jan. 24.

Thus, the only way the Houston game could go forward as scheduled is if the 76ers played on three consecutive days, which is undesirable.