Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni had hoped to reduce P.J. Tucker's playing time, with Tucker averaging a career-high 34.6 minutes per game. The injury to James Ennis III and an assignment defending the Lakers' LeBron James put those plans on hold.
"Obviously, we got to try to win the game," D'Antoni said. "Danuel (House Jr.) if he plays as well as he did (against Portland) can take some of the minutes."
D'Antoni does not usually have a defender assigned to shadow any opponent, but defending James is an exception. Tucker helped hold James to 9 of 22 shooting and 24 points in the first meeting.