Danuel House Jr. set to rejoin Rockets after ankle sprain

Ben DuBose
·2 min read

After missing the last 10 games due to a sprained right ankle, starting forward Danuel House Jr. appears poised to rejoin the Houston Rockets in time for Friday’s home game versus the Los Angeles Clippers. According to the team’s official injury report, House is probable to play.

Now in his third season in Houston, House is averaging 9.3 points (36.0% on 3-pointers) and 3.9 rebounds in 27.2 minutes per game.

“I think we’re getting closer and closer,” the 6-foot-6 forward said on Wednesday. “Just dealing with it (the ankle) the best I can. The staff is doing an unbelievable job. The coaching staff is working with me and prepping myself and getting ready. We’re doing a good job of rehabbing and taking our time, and making sure it is handled in the right way.”

Hours after House’s comments, head coach Stephen Silas added:

House will be back, sooner than later. It looked like today at shootaround that he was moving around pretty good.

It appears that “sooner” will be Houston’s next game. It comes at a very useful time for Silas and the Rockets, who still have six players listed as out due to various injuries or health and safety protocols.

The April 4 ankle sprain was particularly bad timing for House, who had been playing some of his best basketball of the 2020-21 season. After returning from a right knee contusion on March 17, House shot 55.2% on 3-pointers over the next eight games. The 27-year-old is also one of Houston’s most athletic and defensively versatile players.

Friday’s matchup between the Rockets and Clippers is set for a 7:00 p.m. tipoff at Toyota Center. It remains to be seen whether House returns to his usual spot in the starting lineup, or if his minutes might be initially limited since he’s coming off an extended absence.

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Rockets lose starting forward Danuel House Jr. to right ankle sprain