Houston Rockets power forward PJ Tucker is dealing with a minor left ankle sprain — the injury which forced him to withdraw from Team USA.
According to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, Tucker will head back to Houston on Saturday to begin treatment. He should be ready to go for Rockets training camp in September.
Tucker is diagnosed as having "a minor left ankle sprain" and will return to Houston for treatment.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) August 16, 2019
PJ Tucker on decision to not play for USA Basketball in FIBA World Cup b/c of ankle injury:"I twisted it n a game last Friday &again n practice yesterday & I know they're about to go to Australia..I didn't want to be hobbling & then come back (injured)in camp. It just made sense"
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) August 16, 2019
PJ Tucker is arguably the best defender on the Rockets. His defense, leadership and corner 3-point shooting are very important for Houston, who has title aspirations after acquiring former MVP Russell Westbrook from the Oklahoma City Thunder this summer.
Tucker averaged 7.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists for the Rockets last season. He shot 39.6 percent from the field, 37.7 percent from beyond the arc and 69.5 percent from the free-throw line.
For the second straight postseason, the Rockets were eliminated by the Golden State Warriors. Houston lost to the Dubs in six games in the second round.
Now that Kevin Durant is gone, however, the Rockets believe they are the front-runners to win the Western Conference next season, although the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers will have something to say about that.
Tucker will make $8.3 million in 2019-20. He signed a four-year, $31.9 million deal with the Rockets in the summer of 2017.
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