Rockets vs Thunder Injury Report Sengun Returns as VanVleet Sits

The Houston Rockets are getting Alperen Şengün back tonight against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and they're losing Fred VanVleet in the same breath. Şengün is off the latest official NBA injury report entirely after sitting out last night in Dallas with low back soreness, while VanVleet has been ruled out with right knee injury management on the second night of a back-to-back.

Houston is 5-1 after a 116-111 loss to the Mavericks and Oklahoma City is 4-1 with two full days of rest since its own loss in Dallas on Wednesday. The Thunder are also walking into Toyota Center without most of their supporting cast.

When: Saturday, October 31 @ 7:30 PM CT

Where: Toyota Center, Houston, Texas

Where to watch: NBA TV, Space City Home Network, NBA League Pass

HOUSTON ROCKETS INJURY REPORT

Out: Fred VanVleet (G), right knee injury management. Newly listed after playing last night.

Out: Reed Sheppard (G), low back soreness. Second straight game missed.

Out: Steven Adams (C), right soleus strain. Hasn't played since the October 23 win over San Antonio.

Available: Alperen Şengün (C), off the report. Upgraded from out last night.

Available: Marcus Smart (G), off the report after being listed available last night with a left forearm strain.

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER INJURY REPORT

Out: Jalen Williams (G), left ankle surgery

Out: Chet Holmgren (C), right knee patellar tendinitis

Out: Cason Wallace (G), left shoulder labral tear

Out: Alex Caruso (G), right ankle sprain

Out: Nikola Topić (G), low back surgery

Out: Thomas Sorber (C), right knee surgery

WHY IT MATTERS

Last night was a pretty clear preview of what this offense looks like without Şengün. Durant carried the scoring, but the offense got stuck in long stretches without a big man to run it through, and Houston shot 7-of-29 from three. Getting Şengün back gives the Rockets their hub again, and with Holmgren and Sorber both out, Oklahoma City's frontcourt leans almost entirely on Isaiah Hartenstein. That's a matchup Şengün should be hunting all night.

VanVleet's absence hits hardest in the backcourt, because he was one of Houston's two main ball handlers in Dallas. With him and Sheppard both out, the ball-handling falls to Smart and Amen Thompson, and a lot more of the half-court offense will run through Şengün at the elbow. If the guards get careless with the ball, the Thunder will make them pay for it.

Sheppard's absence also leaves the bench short on shooting. After a 7-of-29 night from three, Houston can't afford to give Bogdan Bogdanović and Jabari Smith Jr. a free pass if they go cold early.

Adams is still out, so Clint Capela stays in the frontcourt rotation after earning those minutes last night. He had 11 rebounds, five assists and two blocks, and Tari Eason added 13 rebounds off the bench. Against a Thunder team without Holmgren and Sorber, Houston should own the glass.

For Oklahoma City, the list is long. Jalen Williams is their second-best player, and losing him, Wallace and Caruso strips away three of their best perimeter defenders. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is going to carry an enormous load, and the Rockets have to make every one of his possessions feel heavy.

Houston is a 2.5-point favorite at home, and after the way last night ended, I don't want to hear a word about tired legs. The Thunder are missing six players, including Holmgren and Jalen Williams. If the Rockets can't take care of business at home against this version of Oklahoma City, that's a bigger problem than one loss in Dallas.

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