Marcus Smart's left forearm listing moved from out to day-to-day on Oct. 27, and his estimated return is Wednesday's game at Milwaukee. Houston is 4-0 and atop the Western Conference after beating Atlanta 120-110 at home.
Oct. 21-24
Houston opened by beating Dallas 128-110 at home. It then won two road games by a combined 11 points: 114-110 at San Antonio, with Sengun scoring 29, and 121-114 at Atlanta, with Durant scoring 22 and Eason 19. Smart, Adams and VanVleet all moved on and off the injury report during that stretch.
Oct. 26
The rematch had 20 lead changes before Houston pulled away. A 14-0 run midway through the fourth turned a 95-93 lead into 109-93, and the margin reached 22. Sengun finished with 29 points on 11-of-15 shooting, nine boards, nine assists, six steals and a +29. Durant added 22 and four blocks. Jabari Smith Jr. had 16 and 12 boards in 39 minutes.
Oct. 27
Smart moved from out back to day-to-day. A healthy Smart would add a guard to a backcourt that has run through VanVleet, who was +15 in 29 minutes and closed the game, and Sheppard, who scored 13 on 5-of-12 shooting off the bench. Adams remains out with a right calf injury. The bench scored 31 against the Hawks.
Oct. 28
The Bucks host Houston, and on Oct. 30 the Rockets play at Dallas in an Emirates NBA Cup game. Oklahoma City visits Oct. 31 and Boston on Nov. 2, Adams's estimated return date. The open question is how Ime Udoka splits guard minutes among Smart, VanVleet and Sheppard once all three are available.
Is Marcus Smart playing against the Bucks?
Smart is day-to-day with a left forearm injury, and his estimated return is the Oct. 28 game at Milwaukee. He was listed out as recently as Oct. 26.
When is Steven Adams coming back for the Rockets?
Adams is out with a right calf injury. His estimated return is Nov. 2, when Houston hosts Boston.
