With the Rockets playing the first game in a back-to-back, the first since Nenê returned from his strained calf muscle, Nenê was held out of Wednesday's game to play Thursday in Miami.
The Rockets chose to have him play in the second half of the back-to-back in part because the Wizards often go small at the center spot off the bench while the Heat use Bam Adebayo as a backup to Hassan Whiteside.
The Rockets did recall Isaiah Hartenstein from the G League to play off the bench if the Wizards used a traditional center, with Hartenstein's time with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers offering a chance to stay sharp for the games in which he will be needed.