Dec 5, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (5) drives past Golden State Warriors center Trayce Jackson-Davis (32) during the third quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-Imagn Images John Hefti-Imagn Images

Rockets Coach Offers Fred VanVleet Injury Update

Originally posted on Houston Rockets on SI
By Jeremy Brener | Last updated Dec 9, 2024 11:01 AM ET

The Houston Rockets are heading back home victorious as they beat the Los Angeles Clippers 117-106 at the Intuit Dome on Sunday night.

The Rockets were able to win without starting point guard Fred VanVleet, who was ruled out prior to the game due to a knee injury.

Rockets coach Ime Udoka explained the injury to reporters pre-game.

Ime Udoka says Fred VanVleet hit his knee in the Sacramento game and hyperextended it in the Golden State game. Day to day. https://t.co/H33JoM2TFF pic.twitter.com/fGxX79zD9u
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) December 9, 2024

Udoka says that VanVleet bruised the knee on a hit against the Sacramento Kings, had it swell up, and then it was hyper-extended on Thursday against the Golden State Warriors.

The Rockets will continue to monitor VanVleet daily as the injury persists. It doesn't appear to be too serious, but it was hurting enough for him to miss out on the final game of the road trip against the Clippers even though the team had two full rest days after its last contest against the Warriors.

If he were to play on Wednesday in the team's NBA Cup quarterfinal matchup against the Warriors, it would give him six days since the injury, which could be enough to allow the knee to heal.

If VanVleet were to be unable to go, Amen Thompson would likely draw the start at point guard, just like he did against the Clippers. Thompson had 22 points and eight rebounds in the win against Los Angeles.

This article first appeared on Houston Rockets on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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