The stumbling Rockets expect to have reinforcements coming in the first few days of their five-game road trip, James Ennis III probable to play Friday against the Nets and James Harden likely to play Saturday against the Bulls.
Ennis has missed the Rockets’ past three games and Harden the past two, both with strained hamstrings. Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said Ennis would likely return to the starting lineup, depending on how he looked at Thursday’s practice and felt on Friday. Harden, who was also a full participant at practice, would not have any restrictions on Saturday, with the Rockets holding him out until then largely because they did not want him to play both games in a back-to-back.