LOS ANGELES — Dorian Finney-Smith will make his Houston Rockets debut on this evening against the Los Angeles Lakers, head coach Ime Udoka said. The forward will come off the bench and be limited to 15 minutes of playing time in his first game since April 30.

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Finney-Smith, who Houston signed to a four-year, $53 million contract this offseason, has been sidelined all year as he recovered from ankle surgery. The 10-year veteran’s first game as a Rocket comes on Christmas against his former team in the Lakers, whom he finished the season with last year.

Udoka highlighted Finney-Smith’s veteran experience and versatility as things he’ll add to the 17-7 Houston squad. His high basketball IQ will also be of value for Udoka, as the coach said his team has struggled with following assignments in its recent 1-4 skid.

“Something we’ve lacked at times is our communication,” Udoka said pregame. “I think his awareness of every situation is really high. He’s been around and done all those roles, whether it’s off the bench or starting. So, he just gives us a little bit more depth at the wing, a big wing position that can guard up or guard down.”

Finney-Smith’s defensive prowess will be useful for Udoka given the Rockets’ difficulties of late. Houston owned the NBA’s fourth-best defensive rating (112.1) entering its matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night. But after the 128-108 blowout loss in which Kawhi Leonard and James Harden combined for 70 points, the team dropped to 10th-best in the category (113.1).

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Udoka was incensed by the defensive ineptitude of his squad after the loss. He noted that the team’s been able to “rely on defense” in past games this season. But against the Clippers, its resistance was “nonexistent.”

J.J. Redick, who played with Finney-Smith on the Dallas Mavericks and coached him last season with the Lakers, was pleased to hear his former teammate and player had fully recovered and suit up on Thursday.

“I think everybody knows how fondly we feel about Do,” Redick said pregame. “We knew what we were getting with him, and he didn’t disappoint in terms of just being a warrior every single night and doing whatever was required to help win. He’s a player who drives winning without having to take 15 shots or have the ball in his hands.”

While the addition of Finney-Smith is huge for Houston, it could also be without a key star against Los Angeles. Alperen Şengün remains questionable with left calf tightness and it’s uncertain whether he will make his Christmas Day debut.

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Udoka said the team’s second-leading scorer (23.0 points per game) will test his calf out pregame and “see how it feels.” The absence of Şengün would loom large against the Lakers, as his presence allows Houston to employ its double big lineup and bring more physicality against Lebron James and Co.

Udoka also added that Tari Eason will make his second start of the season on Thursday night, replacing Josh Okogie. Eason returned on Sunday after a 14-game hiatus due to oblique and shin injuries. The forward has come off the bench in all but one of his 13 games played this season, including the two since his comeback.

This article originally published at Dorian Finney-Smith to make Houston Rockets debut vs. Los Angeles Lakers.