The Houston Rockets fortunes are looking up. Tim MacMahon of ESPN reported that Christian Wood has resumed basketball activities. The young breakout big man is not expected to play in Houston’s upcoming game against the Sacramento Kings. The Rockets have lost a total of 13 straight games without Wood in the lineup. He has averaged 22.0 points along with 10.2 rebounds. He leads the team in both categories.
Rockets center Christian Wood has resumed basketball activities, but a source told ESPN that Wood is unlikely to play vs. Kings tomorrow. Houston has lost 13 in a row since Wood, the Rockets’ leading scorer and rebounder, went down with a sprained right ankle.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) March 10, 2021
Wood broke out during last season. After entering the 2015 NBA Draft he would eventually go undrafted. The Rockets gave him a shot in the Summer League, but he would eventually bounce around the G-League, being called up at times to NBA rosters. In the 2019-20 season, he bounced around to the Detroit Pistons and made an impact. He would finish the season averaging 13.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and throwing in a few noteworthy performances throughout.
Since signing with the Rockets to a 3-year $41-million contract he has only improved. Given more minutes and seemingly the new face of the organization with Harden gone. The Rockets have missed his play, which has been made clear by the double-digit losing streak. With the second to the worst record in the Western Conference, they sit at 11-23 overall. Only the Minnesota Timberwolves have a worse record. The Pistons are the only team in the Eastern Conference with a worse record.
While 2021 NBA Playoff hopes are gone, there is hope that Wood will continue his play and improvement. As the Rockets look to reset the franchise and search for the next thing after Harden, Wood is the main figure in whatever shape that takes. Houston fans will be excited to see their newest star back on the court.
