The Rockets understand the importance of veteran guard Fred VanVleet, especially his ability to score and distribute the ball while keeping turnovers low. When VanVleet is not available, the Rockets are still developing as a team.
However, Houston showed progress on Sunday when VanVleet missed the game due to a knee injury, leading to a 117-106 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
VanVleet could return on Wednesday, as he told The Houston Chronicle that he is ready to play in the NBA Cup quarterfinals against the Golden State Warriors. VanVleet averages 16 points per game, ranking third on the team, and leads the Rockets with 5.9 assists while committing just 1.2 turnovers.
Against the Clippers, the Rockets relied on Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, and Amen Thompson, who filled in for VanVleet. Sengun and Thompson combined for 10 assists, and Green led the team with 31 points. Although VanVleet was missed, Houston found a way to win.
“He’s such a calming influence for the team that kind of gets us into what we need to a lot,” said Rockets coach Ime Udoka. “You still want guys to grow and learn that, so when he’s not out there they’re forced to do it a little bit more.” Udoka also mentioned the team did a good job stepping up and working together when VanVleet was absent.
Green added, “Fred is a big part of our team but I think we held it down for him. It’s going to be good momentum going into Wednesday.”
The Rockets will need all their momentum when facing the Warriors, who have won 15 straight games in this series, including a 99-93 victory last Thursday. In the first matchup of the season, the Rockets trailed by 31 points in the first half but made a comeback, forcing overtime before losing 127-121 in Houston on Nov. 2.
The winner of Wednesday’s game will move on to face either Dallas or Oklahoma City in the NBA Cup semifinals on Saturday in Las Vegas.
The Warriors were without Stephen Curry for both prior games against the Rockets this season, and Draymond Green (left calf) missed their win last week. Both players returned in a 114-106 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday.
Curry scored a game-high 30 points and added eight assists, while Green contributed six points, six rebounds, and seven assists.
The Rockets and Warriors have had memorable playoff matchups in recent years, with Golden State eliminating Houston in 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019. The Warriors’ wins in 2015 and 2018 sent them to the NBA Finals.
Though the NBA Cup may not match the intensity of those playoff games, Wednesday’s matchup will still feel more charged than a regular-season game.
“There’s still an appreciation for a moment, like a build-up for a game,” Curry said. “We all want to get to Vegas for sure so we’ll give everything we’ve got to it. It’s a little different context than the playoffs.”
