VanVleet was ejected after being assessed a Flagrant 2 foul in the fourth quarter of Monday's game against the 76ers, Ben DuBose of USA Today reports.
VanVleet was ejected in the final minutes of Monday's game after he committed a reckless foul under the basket. He'll finish the game with three points (1-6 FG, 1-5 3Pt), seven rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks across 38 minutes.
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Rockets' Jabari Smith: Returning to bench
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Smith isn't in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the 76ers, Lachard Binkley of SI.com reports.
Smith has fluctuated between a starting and bench role since mid-February, and he'll shift yet again Monday after drawing the start Saturday against the Bulls. The Auburn product has found success as a reserve, finishing in double figures in three of his last four appearances off the bench.
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Rockets' Tari Eason: Starting against 76ers
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Eason is in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the 76ers, Lachard Binkley of SI.com reports.
Eason will get the nod in the first unit in favor of Jabari Smith against an undermanned 76ers frontcourt. Over 11 games as a starter, Eason has averaged 14.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.4 blocks in 30.0 minutes.
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Rockets' Amen Thompson: Progressing toward return
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Head coach Ime Udoka said Monday that Thompson (ankle) has yet to go through contact drills, though he is progressing well and could return as soon as Friday's game against Miami, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Thompson has been out since March 10 due to a sprained left ankle, though he is expected to return shortly after he is able to go through contact drills. An MRI on the 22-year-old's ankle showed no structural damage, but he'll likely operate under a minutes restriction whenever he returns from the extended absence. Over his last 10 appearances, Thompson has averaged 15.0 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.3 blocks across 36.4 minutes per contest.
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Rockets' Tari Eason: Available for Monday
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Eason (lower leg) is off the injury report ahead of Monday's game against the 76ers.
Eason missed Saturday's game against the Bulls as he continues to nurse a left lower-leg issue, but he will be available Monday. Eason has started the last five games he has appeared in, averaging 16.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocks in 29.0 minutes per contest over that stretch.
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Rockets' Fred VanVleet: Steps up with 23 points Saturday
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VanVleet closed Saturday's 117-114 win over Chicago with 23 points (8-20 FG, 5-14 3Pt, 2-4 FT), four rebounds, seven assists and one block over 35 minutes.
After seeing a limited workload in his first two games back from a right ankle sprain, VanVleet saw his usual minutes Saturday and responded by scoring at least 20 points with five or more made three-pointers for the first time since Jan. 25. The veteran point guard has seen his usage and numbers decline in 2024-25 even when healthy. but the 31-year-old remains a key piece of Houston's backcourt.
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Rockets' Jalen Green: Leading scorer Saturday
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Green registered 28 points (11-25 FG, 5-13 3Pt, 1-2 FT), six rebounds, three assists and one block over 38 minutes during Saturday's 117-114 win over the Bulls.
The fourth-year guard led all scorers as he topped 20 points for the third straight game. Green fell into a bit of a shooting slump earlier in March, but he's still drained multiple three-pointers in seven straight contests, averaging 18.6 points, 6.0 boards, 4.7 assists, 3.0 threes and 1.0 steals during that span.
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Rockets' Alperen Sengun: Big double-double in win
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Sengun ended Saturday's 117-114 victory over the Bulls with 24 points (9-18 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 6-8 FT), 15 rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two steals across 37 minutes.
The double-double was his 39th of the season and third in the last four games, and Sengun appears to be fully recovered from the back issue that may have hampered his rebounding earlier in the month. During that four-game stretch, the fourth-year center has averaged 18.5 points, 12.0 boards, 4.8 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.8 blocks while shooting 56.0 percent from the floor.
Smith is in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Bulls, Lachard Binkley of SI.com reports.
The Rockets will be without Tari Eason due to left lower leg injury management, so Smith will be promoted to the starting lineup as a result. Smith was a starter in the first months of the season but has returned to the bench after recovering from a hand injury. He's averaging 11.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game in a starting role this season.
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Rockets' Tari Eason: Won't play against Chicago
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Eason is out for Saturday's game versus the Bulls due to left lower leg injury management.
Eason will miss the second leg of Saturday's back-to-back after starting in Houston's previous five outings. Jabari Smith, Cam Whitmore and Jae'Sean Tate are candidates to receive increased playing time in his absence. Eason's next chance to suit up is Monday's matchup with Philadelphia.
Rockets' Tari Eason: Season-high 30 points in easy win
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Eason ended with 30 points (11-15 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 6-6 FT), eight rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal over 31 minutes during Friday's 133-96 victory over the Mavericks.
On top of filling the box score, Eason set a new season-high scoring output Friday to lead the Rockets. Eason has averaged 15.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.0 blocks and 1.7 three-pointers in 28.1 minutes through his last nine games. Although the 2022 first-rounder has regularly sat out one leg of Houston's back-to-back sets during the second half of the season, Eason should remain a strong source of defensive stats when available.
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Rockets' Jock Landale: Sees garbage-time run in rout
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Landale posted six points (3-4 FG), five rebounds and one steal over 23 minutes during Friday's 133-96 win over Dallas.
Landale saw some extra playing time while playing the entire fourth quarter during Friday's easy win, but it was still just a pedestrian performance off the bench. Over his last eight appearances, Landale has averaged a mere 3.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.4 assists in 11.1 minutes. The 29-year-old big man should continue carrying minimal fantasy appeal as long as Alperen Sengun is healthy.
Green logged 23 points (9-19 FG, 4-8 3Pt, 1-2 FT), nine rebounds, five assists, two blocks and one steal in 32 minutes during Friday's 133-96 victory over the Mavericks.
It was full stat line for Green, who fell just one rebound shy of what would have been his third double-double of the season. The star guard has averaged 20.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.0 steals and 3.3 three-pointers in 33.0 minutes over 12 games since the All-Star break, scoring in double figures in all but one of those appearances.
Green closed Wednesday's 111-104 victory over the Suns with 29 points (8-16 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 10-11 FT), seven rebounds, four assists and three steals over 37 minutes.
This was Green's 13th game of the campaign with at least 29 points, and his fifth game with at least three steals. With 66 games under his belt, Green holds averages of 21.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.9 steals and 2.9 three-pointers.
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Rockets' Tari Eason: Double-doubles in win
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Eason ended Wednesday's 111-104 victory over the Suns with 15 points (6-13 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 1-2 FT), 10 rebounds, one assist, two blocks and one steal across 26 minutes.
Eason recorded his fifth double-double of the season despite a modest workload of 26 minutes. The Rockets have a back-to-back set coming up Friday against Dallas and Saturday against Chicago, so with how cautious the Rockets have been with him all season, a maintenance day could be on the table.
