Feb. 24, 2026, 3:15 p.m. CT

HOUSTON — The good news for the Rockets (35-21) is that they’ve risen to the No. 3 spot in the Western Conference standings, and next on the schedule is a visit from the last-place Sacramento Kings (13-46).

The bad news is that Houston will be without one of its most important players for Wednesday’s game at Toyota Center.

Amen Thompson is listed as out with tendinitis in his left left quadricep, according to a pregame injury report issued Tuesday. Thompson, 23, had played and started in 55 of Houston’s previous 56 games, though he did leave the court early during Monday’s blowout victory over the Utah Jazz.

Thompson, 23, is averaging 17.4 points (50.9% FG), 7.6 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.5 steals in 37.2 minutes per game this season, and he remains a dynamic defender, as well. His minutes total ranks second in the entire NBA, as Houston relies heavily on Thompson for both defense and rim pressure.

When Thompson missed a Feb. 7 game at Oklahoma City due to illness, he was replaced in the starting lineup by second-year guard Reed Sheppard.

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Once veteran floor general Fred VanVleet was lost to an ACL tear, Thompson and Sheppard were next in line when it comes to ball-handling and playmaking duties. So, with Thompson out, it appears likely that Sheppard will again start, followed by either veteran Aaron Holiday or fourth-year guard JD Davison as the primary backup.

The Rockets have yet to indicate the amount of time they expect Thompson to miss.

With another game looming Thursday versus the Magic, it’s possible Wednesday’s absence could be precautionary. Perhaps Houston doesn’t want to use Thompson for two games in 24 hours, and in that scenario, the Kings at home are a much easier opponent than a trip to Orlando (30-26) on night two of a back-to-back.

Or, perhaps there’s more severity to it, and the absence turns into multiple games. We’ll learn more when head coach Ime Udoka speaks to the media about two hours before Wednesday’s game, which tips off at 7:00 p.m. Central.

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