HOUSTON (AP) -Ron Artest and Tracy McGrady practiced with the Houston Rockets on Thursday and said they were close to recovering from injuries that have nagged them most of the season.
The Rockets open a three-game road trip at Indiana on Friday night, but neither Artest nor McGrady can say when they’ll return to the lineup. The team’s medical staff and coach Rick Adelman have input in the final decision, both players said.
McGrady has missed 15 games this season with soreness in his left knee, the aftermath of offseason surgery. He sat out the second game of Houston’s past four back-to-back sets and hasn’t played since Jan. 9.
McGrady said he’ll miss Friday’s game and won’t play in the All-Star Game if he’s voted onto the West roster.
“I felt pretty good today after practice; I’ll try to get another one in on Saturday and we’ll see where it goes,” McGrady said. “I’m not ready to play in a regular game with my team, so All-Star night, thinking about that, it’s not even a question.”
d 12 games this season with a bone bruise in his right ankle, an injury he suffered in a Nov. 17 game in Oklahoma City. He tried to play through it, but aggravated it and finally decided to sit out until it healed.
“I don’t think I made a smart decision by playing,” he said. “I did a little bit too much ‘being a man.’ I should’ve just taken time off.”
Tests this week showed no stress fracture, clearing Artest to go full speed on Thursday.
“The pain I’m playing on right now is nowhere near what I had when I first had the injury,” Artest said. “That’s a good sign.”
Houston went 4-1 on a five-game homestand without both players. The Rockets also beat Oklahoma City on Jan. 9 without Artest and Boston on Jan. 7 without McGrady.
Based on Thursday’s practice, Adelman thought both would return soon, but he couldn’t set a timetable.
“They both looked like they were moving good, they didn’t have any problems,” Adelman said. “They both came out with a purpose, to show that they’ve been working. It’s obvious that they’ve been working and they moved well.”
Yao Ming has carried the offensive load in their absence, averaging 22 points in the five home games. Von Wafer has filled in for McGrady, averaging 17 points in 10 games this month.
He made a 3-pointer and scored 21 points in Houston’s 108-99 win over Utah on Wednesday night.
rady back in the fold, though he said the Rockets may need some time to adjust to a new rotation.
“We’re going to have to figure that out when they’re both ready to play, as to how we’re going to do that,” Adelman said. “We’re on a little bit of a run here. I don’t know how we’re going to approach it.”
McGrady isn’t concerned about how the rest of the Rockets will react when he and Artest return.
“The most important thing is we just get out there and see what happens,” he said.
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