After missing four weeks with an oblique injury, Rockets forward Tari Eason was ramping up to return before feeling some soreness in his troublesome left shin.
The good news for injured Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason is that his recent oblique strain has healed and is no longer an issue, according to head coach Ime Udoka.
The bad news is that after missing 13 games and counting, another injury has flared up for the 24-year-old. And based on his personal history, it could be a concerning one.
Here’s what Udoka said Thursday, via Greg Rajan of the Houston Chronicle:
The oblique is healed — the oblique is feeling good. During the ramp-up process, he had some soreness with his shin, so we want to be 100 percent with that… and be sure with that.
I think the load up, ramping-up process just got some soreness because he’d been off his body for a while.
“Hopefully in the next few games,” Udoka said of a potential return timetable. “That’s the plan.”
Now in his fourth NBA season, Eason has missed at least 20 games in each of the past two seasons with issues related to his left shin. Thus, it’s understandable for both Eason and the Rockets to be very cautious with this particular injury.
For the 2025-26 season to date, Eason is averaging 11.5 points and 5.2 rebounds in 23.2 minutes per game. The 6-foot-8 forward is shooting a career-best 50.9% from 3-point range, and he’s a very valuable and versatile defender, as well.
In Eason’s absence, Houston’s defense has fallen off in December, and the Rockets (16-8) are just 3-4 this month.
With Eason listed as out due to “left lower leg injury management,” Houston returns to action Saturday in Denver, where the Rockets lost a frustrating and controversial game earlier this week.
Tipoff is at 4:00 p.m. Central, and the game will be televised regionally on Space City Home Network (SCHN) and nationally via NBA League Pass. The Rockets are 0-2 against the Nuggets (20-6) this season, and both losses came with Eason unavailable.