Steven Adams’ latest setback leaves the Rockets waiting for one more update.
Houston said in Sunday’s injury report that the veteran center will miss at least another game because of a right soleus strain. That means Adams will sit out Monday night when the Rockets host the Atlanta Hawks, and head coach Ime Udoka is expected to give a clearer read on the timeline during his pregame press conference.
Adams had already been through a strange few days. He missed Houston’s regular-season opener last Wednesday with what the team described as right calf soreness/tightness, and Udoka said the problem surfaced after Tuesday’s practice.
Then Adams suited up Friday in San Antonio before being ruled out again Saturday in Atlanta. At that point, the Rockets listed him as out for maintenance reasons, not because of the new injury.
The good news for Houston is that this issue is not connected to the left ankle surgery that cost Adams the second half of the 2025-26 season.
At 33, Adams is still a force in the areas that matter most for a big man in short bursts: offensive rebounding and screen setting. But durability has become more of a concern in recent seasons.
Calf strains can be tricky. In the NBA, the average time lost in recent years has been 16 days, according to Jeff Stotts of InStreetClothes, though the recovery window can swing a lot depending on the severity. Udoka should have a better answer on Monday.
In the meantime, Houston has options behind Alperen Sengun. Veteran Clint Capela and two-way forward/center Oscar Tshiebwe could both see rotation minutes, and the Rockets could also lean on Jabari Smith Jr. at center in smaller, quicker lineups.
The Rockets enter Monday at 3-0, while Atlanta is 2-1. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
Central at Toyota Center. The game will air locally on Space City Home Network and be available nationally and internationally through NBA League Pass.
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