Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports
The Houston Rockets fell into a 0-2 series hole in the team’s first round playoff match-up against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night and an injury to starting point guard Jeremy Lin may hurt the Rockets even further as the series moves to Texas.
What was initially reported as a shoulder injury, Lin sat out the entire second half of the Rockets’ 105-102 loss to the Thunder with a chest contusion. He is questionable to play in game three of the series and any absence will undoubtedly hurt the Rockets.
Lin played 20 minutes in the first half and had tallied seven points, four rebounds and three assists and returned from the tunnel with the team after the halftime break.
“It was fine as I was sitting here at halftime,” Lin told the Houston Chronicle post-game. “I tried to run out of the tunnel and I couldn’t really run. When I did, it would go crazy. We’re supposed to just see what happens tomorrow, how it feels tomorrow. As long as stuff stops spasming, I’m good. I don’t know how any of this stuff works.”
The highly paid off-season acquisition will have two days rest before game three on Saturday.
“This is easily the most frustrating thing that’s happened this entire season,” Lin said. “I’ve been healthy all season. The second half of a playoff game, on the road, we’re playing well, Game 2, it’s just, yeah, it speaks for itself.”
Without Lin, the Rockets were forced to rely heavily on rookie guard Patrick Beverley (who actually started as the Rockets went with a small ball line-up)- a tactic that isn’t exactly synonymous with playoff success. Beverley was great (16 points, 12 rebounds, six assists), however the Rockets will not find success in over relying on an inexperienced player and heroics of James Harden. Lin hasn’t been an ideal second banana as Houston probably would have liked this season, but he is a dangerous, and capable weapon.
The Rockets managed to stay alive without their starting point guard in the second half, fighting back from a 15-point fourth quarter deficit, but will need Lin at full health if they are any chance of avoiding a series sweep.
Robert White covers the Houston Rockets for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @RobertWhitebrrr.
