The Rockets were without three starters on Friday versus Toronto, with Alperen Sengun (dental procedure) joining Jabari Smith Jr. (left ankle sprain) and Eric Gordon (rest) on the sidelines. It was not immediately clear whether any would be available to return by Houston’s next preseason game, which takes place Monday in Miami.
None of the three exhibition absences are believed to be concerning from the standpoint of Houston’s 2022-23 regular-season opener, which takes place on Wednesday, Oct. 19 in Atlanta.
With Sengun, Gordon, and Smith out, Bruno Fernando, Jae’Sean Tate, and KJ Martin are among the likely replacements in Friday’s clash at Toyota Center between the Raptors and Rockets. It is Houston’s second and final home game of a four-game exhibition slate.
The Rockets were also without head coach Stephen Silas, who has been in the NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols for most of this week. Beyond Friday, his return timetable is not yet known.
With Silas out, Rockets assistant coach John Lucas has taken over as acting head coach for the time being.
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Story originally appeared on Rockets Wire