Marcus Smart was downgraded from day-to-day to out for Wednesday's game at Milwaukee with a left forearm injury. The unbeaten Rockets will go without the veteran guard again, and Alperen Sengun is also out.
What happened
Marcus Smart is out for Wednesday's game against the Bucks with a left forearm injury. The injury report changed his status at 2:00 PM ET on Wednesday, Oct. 28. He had been listed as day-to-day. The report's note reads: "Smart (forearm) is out for Wednesday's game against the Bucks." His status has gone back and forth since Saturday, Oct. 24. He was day-to-day Tuesday, out Monday, day-to-day Sunday and out Saturday. The report lists an expected return date of Oct. 30.
What it means for the Rockets
Houston plays at Milwaukee at 8:00 PM ET Wednesday. The Rockets are 4-0, have won four straight and are the top seed. Smart has played two games and averages 7.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 23.9 minutes. Houston is 2-0 with him and 2-0 without him. In the games he missed, Fred VanVleet played 30.0 minutes and scored 8.3 points. Reed Sheppard played 23.5 minutes and scored 11.7, and Bogdan Bogdanovic played 13.8 minutes and scored 6.0. The frontcourt is thin as well. Alperen Sengun is out with a back injury and Steven Adams is out with a right calf injury.
What to watch
Watch the next injury report for Smart's status. He has moved between out and day-to-day almost daily since Saturday. The report lists an expected return of Oct. 30, but no timetable beyond that has been announced. The next game is Wednesday night at Milwaukee. Houston's schedule after that has not been set out here, so it is not yet clear which game Smart could return for. Sengun's back is the other status to watch.
Is Marcus Smart playing against the Bucks on Wednesday?
No. The injury report lists Smart as out for Wednesday's 8:00 PM ET game at Milwaukee with a left forearm injury.
When will Marcus Smart be back?
The injury report lists an expected return date of Oct. 30. Beyond that, no timetable has been announced, and his status has changed often since Oct. 24.