PHOTOS: Rockets game-by-game
Gerald Green #14 of the Houston Rockets reacts in the second half against the Utah Jazz at Toyota Center on October 24, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
Browse through the photos to see how the Rockets have fared in each game this season.
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PHOTOS: Rockets game-by-game
Gerald Green #14 of the Houston Rockets reacts in the second half against the Utah Jazz at Toyota Center on October 24, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
... more
Photo: Tim Warner
PHOTOS: Rockets game-by-game
Gerald Green #14 of the Houston Rockets reacts in the second half against the Utah Jazz at Toyota Center on October 24, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
Browse through the photos to see how the Rockets have fared in each game this season.
lessPHOTOS: Rockets game-by-game
Gerald Green #14 of the Houston Rockets reacts in the second half against the Utah Jazz at Toyota Center on October 24, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
... morePhoto: Tim Warner
With Gerald Green working his way back after missing three games with a sprained ankle, Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni said he was ready to return Green to the rotation, hoping to lead to a chain reaction that might cut the playing time at other positions.
Green playing at shooting guard and small forward could allow Gary Clark to get more of his playing time at power forward, theoretically reducing the playing time for P.J. Tucker, who has averaged a career high 35.9 minutes per game (tied with James Harden for seventh-most in the league and 37.6 minutes since Carmelo Anthony was dropped from the rotation, even with the blowout on Thursday.
Green played the final 3:43 of Thursday's game, but is expected to receive more playing time.
"He'll be in the rotation somewhere, but we have to ease him back in," D'Antoni said. "Especially in the first half, it can help everybody (with playing time) a little bit."
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