James Ennis III started at small forward for a second consecutive game, but Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni said that is in part to keep a scorer coming off the bench.
With Carmelo Anthony starting at power forward with P.J. Tucker out, D'Antoni brought Eric Gordon in with the second unit in the sixth man role he had the past two seasons, making Ennis the starter at small forward. With Tucker returning as a starter, D'Antoni would have Anthony to offer a scorer with the second unit.
"We like to have a punch come off the bench. Carmelo will start instead of P.