After sitting out on Thursday against the Warriors, Rockets reserve center Nenê was back in the rotation against Portland. That was by design, with the Warriors' small second unit allowing him a day off before the Rockets would face a Trail Blazers team with two seven-footers, albeit generally perimeter shooting, off the bench behind the physical Jusuf Nurkiu0107.
"He was a little sore and we knew we needed him for Nurkiu0107," Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni said of holding Nenê out. "Against Golden State we could get away with not having him. We just picked a day for rest.