Rockets' Chris Paul, Luc Mbah a Moute doubtful Saturday vs. Pelicans

Rockets' Chris Paul, Luc Mbah a Moute doubtful Saturday vs. Pelicans
By Glynn A. Hill, Houston Chronicle


Published 2:21 pm, Friday, March 23, 2018

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Photo: Darren Abate/Associated Press
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Houston Rockets' Chris Paul (3) talks to teammates Luc Mbah a Moute (12) and Gerald Green during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018, in San Antonio. Houston won 102-91. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

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Houston Rockets' Chris Paul (3) talks to teammates Luc Mbah a Moute (12) and Gerald Green during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018, in San Antonio. Houston won 102-91. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)


The Rockets may be without guard Chris Paul and forward Luc Mbah a Moute for their weekend series against the New Orleans Pelicans and the Atlanta Hawks at the Toyota Center.

Both are considered doubtful for Saturday's game against the Pelicans.

"We'll see, Sunday or next Tuesday, we don't know. But it'll be pretty soon," coach Mike D'Antoni said of Paul's return.

Mbah a Moute left Thursday's game (a 100-96 overtime victory over the Detroit Pistons) with left knee soreness, aggravating an injury that flared up against Minnesota on March 18.


"We're just making sure he's OK but probably Sunday, Tuesday," D'Antoni said. "We just want to make sure this time that he has enough rest where it won't happen again, hopefully."


























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The Pelicans contest is the first of the Rockets' final 10 games.


Houston took a three-game winning streak into their March 17 win over New Orleans last Saturday. That streak has grown to seven although their recent stretch hardly surprises any players.


"People think that we were joking when we talk about not really (being) worried about or thinking about that winning streak but we really didn't man," forward P.J. Tucker said. "It's just trying to play to win every game."


In order to maintain that success through May, D'Antoni said he expects to rest players periodically next week although he's conscious not to disrupt the rhythm they've become accustomed to throughout the season.


"We'll be very conscious at this stage obviously with all the players but we have time," he said. "They'll get their rest."

It's something players see as an extension of their work over the last five months.

"It's been like that all year," Tucker said. "Make sure we get our rest, make sure everyone is fresh and ready to go at all times, especially now going into playoffs."

"It is what it is," Paul added. "We're getting down towards the stretch run of the season and we've been saying it all year long. We just want to make sure we're healthy and right going into postseason play."

Houston and Golden State have each clinched their respective division titles but the Rockets lead the Warriors by 4.5 games for the top seed in the Western Conference.



Despite this, Paul doesn't feel a target on their backs. He's more concerned with staying healthy than padding their lead in the standings.

"I don't think it's so much about the cushion than it is about the depth we have as a team," he said. "It's never easy because a lot of teams that we've been playing are playing for their playoff life and we obviously already locked up a top-two seed."

Heading into this weekend's games, Paul and his teammates aren't looking too far into the future as others still compete for a playoff berth. Still, it's exciting to be on the winningest team of his career.

"We've got 58 wins right now...That's the most I've been a part of in my NBA career," he said. "Right now we're just trying to enjoy it. Day-by-day, game-by-game."