The Launch Pad: Four Regulars Tagged Questionable Before…

By the Rockets Nightly Desk · Wednesday, October 14

Houston split its last two preseason games against Dallas and now heads into Thursday's finale against Oklahoma City with four regulars sidelined by precautionary tags. All four share the same target to return: the Thunder game itself.

Rockets Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Last season

Oklahoma City went 64-18 with a plus-11.1 scoring margin and a 100.4 pace, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 31.1 points a game. Houston finished 52-30 with its own margin at plus-5.4; the Durant-Capela-Smith Jr.-Eason-Sheppard group posted the team's best mark, outscoring opponents by 21.7 points over 66 minutes together.

October 9 and 11

The Rockets split two games against Dallas: a 135-117 win on October 9, led by Eason's 20 points and VanVleet's 17, then a 115-132 loss on October 11, when Smart scored 20 and Sheppard added 17. Sengun recorded a triple-double in the win: 16 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists.

Today

Four Rockets regulars carry matching precautionary tags: Durant (not injury related), Adams, Sengun and VanVleet (all rest-related). Each has the same target to return — Thursday's game against Oklahoma City, the last tune-up before the October 21 opener against Dallas.

Thursday

Oklahoma City will have had only one day off before tip, while Houston comes in rested after four days away from game action. The Thunder are also banged up: Holmgren, Mitchell, Jaylin Williams, Sorber and Oweh are all sidelined. This is Houston's last tune-up before the regular season opens.

Next Houston opens the regular season October 21 against Dallas, six days after Thursday's preseason finale with Oklahoma City.

When do the Rockets open the regular season?

October 21 against Dallas, the Rockets' first game that counts after Thursday's preseason finale versus Oklahoma City.

Which Rockets are banged up before the Thunder game?

Durant, Adams, Sengun and VanVleet are all tagged questionable, with Thursday's game as each one's target to return.

By the Rockets Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.