Dwight Howard is set to return tonight versus the Denver Nuggets after missing 11 games due to a strained right knee. Houston Rockets are 8-3 without Dwight this season and 9-2 with Dwight playing. The Rockets record with and without Dwight should stress how incredible James Harden has been since Dwight went down, but superman is back! Dwight is averaging 18.8 points per game, 11.3 rebounds per game, and 2.3 blocks per game. Dwight talked to the media today about his status tonight versus the Nuggets.
Per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle,
“I’m just thankful to be back out there,” said Dwight. “Nobody wants to sit on the bench in a suit and watch his team play. You want to get out there in the action. But I’m happy to be back out there, thankful. I thank God for just allowing me to be able to play again. I’m just happy to play again. That’s the big thing.”
Patrick Beverley also weighed in on how he felt about Dwight’s being gone for 11 games with a right knee strain.
Also per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle,
“I don’t see anything but good things to happen with Dwight,” said Rockets guard Pat Beverley, who returned from a hamstring injury a week ago. “I’m excited. Our team is excited. Our coaching staff, they’re very excited. I know our fans are excited. We’re starting to get some healthy guys back. That’s a big key right now.”
Per Basketball-Reference
2014-15 Houston Rocket stats as a team:
Points Per Game 99.2 (18th of 30)
Points per game the Rockets are allowing to other opposing teams 95.2 (4th of 30)Offensive Rating: 104.7 (20th of 30)
Defensive Rating: 100.5 (2nd of 30)
The Rockets are currently second in the Southwest Division and overall the Rockets are 3rd in the Western Conference!
