Guard Austin Rivers, a key reserve off the Rockets bench, will be out for Game 1 against the Warriors with an illness.
Rivers averaged 6.2 points, making 46.2 percent of his 3-pointers, in the first round of the playoffs, but is considered especially valuable for his defense with the second unit. With Rivers out, the Rockets will likely increase the playing time for Gerald Green off the bench, but could also move Iman Shumpert back into the rotation.
ON TEXAS SPORTS NATION: Rockets vs. Warriors - How they match up
In three games against the Warriors this season, Rivers had averaged 8.