Rockets guard Marcus Smart moved from out to cleared on Friday's injury report after a week of status changes with a left forearm injury. He is available as unbeaten Houston plays at Dallas on Friday night.
What happened
Marcus Smart has been cleared to play. The Rockets guard went from out to cleared on the injury report at 7:25 p.m. ET on Friday, Oct. 30, ahead of an 8 p.m. tipoff in Dallas. Smart had been dealing with a left forearm injury since Oct. 24, when he was first listed as day-to-day. Over the next week his status went back and forth between day-to-day and out. He was ruled out again on Wednesday, Oct. 28. The report gave no further detail on the forearm and included no comment.
What it means for the Rockets
Houston plays at Dallas on Friday at 8 p.m. ET. The Rockets are 5-0, have won five straight and are the top seed. They have not needed Smart to win. They are 2-0 with him and 3-0 without him. In his two games, Smart averaged 7.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 23.9 minutes. He gives Houston a body back while others are missing. Reed Sheppard, Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams are all out on the injury report. Sheppard played 23.4 minutes a game and Sengun 33.9 while Smart sat. Without Smart, Fred VanVleet played 29.8 minutes, Tari Eason 24.8 and Bogdan Bogdanovic 14.1.
What to watch
The first question is how much Smart plays in his first game back. No minutes limit has been announced. His status changed almost every day over the past week, so watch the next injury report after the Dallas game to see whether the clearance holds. That report should also have updates on Sheppard, Sengun and Adams, who are all still out. Houston brings a 5-0 record and a five-game winning streak into Friday's game against the Mavericks.
Is Marcus Smart playing at Mavericks on Friday?
Yes. Smart was cleared on the injury report at 7:25 p.m. ET on Friday, Oct. 30, before the 8 p.m. ET game at Dallas.
When will Marcus Smart be back?
He is back now. Smart was cleared for Friday's game at Dallas after his left forearm injury kept him out. No minutes limit has been announced.