Could Rockets Benefit From Shutting Down Kevin Porter Jr. If Foot Injury Lingers?

If Kevin Porter Jr. is still dealing with pain in his left foot, the Houston Rockets could benefit from shutting their starting point guard down for the remainder of the season.

HOUSTON — The Houston Rockets will return from the All-Star break on Friday. They will continue their five-game road trip against the Golden State Warriors inside the Chase Center.

The Rockets could be short-handed against the Warriors, given that Jalen Green's hamstring injury appeared serious on Feb. 15. But the health status of Kevin Porter Jr. remains a bigger issue.

Porter has missed 16 consecutive games following a "freakish accident" against the Sacramento Kings, which left Houston's starting point guard with a foot contusion since Jan. 11. 

As of Feb. 7, coach Stephen Silas said Porter was still dealing with pain despite showing signs of improvement. There was no timetable for his return. 

Silas hopes to receive more information about Porter's injury following the All-Star break. But should his status remain unchanged, it could be in the Rockets' best interest to shut Porter down for the final 24 games.

Not only would the decision protect one of the Rockets' foundational pieces in a losing season. But Porter's absence gives Houston a prominent chance to evaluate rookie point guard TyTy Washington Jr.

Washington has proved himself as a solid floor general since gaining steady minutes. The more experience Washington can gain would increase the Rockets' confidence in using their first-year prospect as a reliable reserve option entering the 2023-24 campaign.

In the five games before the All-Star break, Washington had recorded a 20-point performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Feb. 4. Six nights later, he registered a career-best six assists in Houston's loss against the Miami Heat.

Silas has not shied away from expressing how much the team misses Porter. In the eight games before his injury, Porter had averaged 22.8 points on 49.2 percent shooting, 42.3 percent from deep, 6.4 assists and 5.9 rebounds. 

Porter was playing arguably the best of his career. And Houston's offense has looked disjointed on several occasions since his injury.

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You can follow Coty M. Davis on Twitter at @CotyDavis_24

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