The Rockets will be without Christian Wood when they resume their season Thursday night in Sacramento, but the center is getting closer to making his return.
"Christian practiced today," Rockets head coach Stephen Silas said Wednesday evening. "He made it through everything today. His conditioning could be better, for sure, and that's the next hurdle to approach."
Thursday's game will be the 14th straight Wood will miss after spraining his ankle on February 4. The Rockets have lost the first 13, but Silas said they aren't going to rush him back, despite the skid.
"We don't want him to be out there and not be in shape enough to make it through the rigors of the game."
The timetable on Wood's return is about a week, according to Silas, and the 25-year old is chomping at the bit to get back.
"I feel great," Wood said. "Just a few more days and I'll be back."
Wood said last month that he would return before the All Star break, but swelling around his ankle forced him to push his timeline back. Thursday will mark five weeks since he sprained his ankle in Memphis, but he says he's been working hard trying to get back on the floor.
"It's been tough. I've been lifting a lot of weights. It's been a grind for me. This rehab is way harder than in the games, it's actually very different, so I've never really been hurt this long before, so it's something that's new to me.
The Rockets center, who is averaging 22 points and 10 rebounds during his first season with the team, called Wednesday's practice "competitive" and said he purposely tried to rile up his teammates.
"We're a better team that what we showed (during the losing streak). When we're healthy, we're a hard team to beat."
With David Nwaba's wrist injury, the Rockets won't be fully healthy for awhile, but with Wood nearing a return, they are getting closer to playing with a full deck.
"I'm ready to be back," Wood said. "I'm ready to help this team out and get us off of this slump."
