Jae'Sean

Tate

Tate has yet to play in this series, as he has been out with a right ankle impingement. His continued absence will not impact the series, as Tate is not guaranteed rotation minutes when he is available.

Both reserves will miss another game of this series, but neither would likely have been part of the rotation in the postseason. Their continued absences will not have an impact on this series.

Tate missed Houston’s last two regular season games and Game 1 of this series. However, his role when he was available was a minimal one. Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason will continue to fill out the reserve forward minutes.

Tate was ruled out for Houston’s final regular season a day in advance and his return date for the postseason is up in the air. He hasn’t played a significant role for the Rockets this season and his recovery shouldn’t affect the team’s preferred rotation.

Tate is the lone player on the Rockets’ injury report for Sunday’s game, so the team will put forth some resistance on Sunday despite being locked into the two-seed in the West. Tate’s continued absence will not impact fantasy basketball.

Smith’s potential absence is more impactful than Tate’s being unavailable, as he plays high minutes off the bench. Cam Whitmore and Jeff Green may have playing time available, but that would depend on Smith’s availability. If he cannot play, those two should figure more prominently in the Rockets’ plans on Friday.

For a game that carries importance in the western conference playoff standings, the Rockets are missing quite a few players. Smith Jr. and Thompson join Alperen Sengun, Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks on the sidelines Wednesday. Cam Whitmore and Jae’Sean Tate are prime candidates to see increased minutes against the Clippers.

Eason is managing a lower left leg injury so the 23-year-old small forward is going to sit out the second leg of the Rockets’ back-to-back Saturday. Jabari Smith, Cam Whitmore and Jae’Sean Tate could all see increased opportunities with Eason out.

Brooks will join Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun and Fred VanVleet on the sideline, leaving Houston depleted across the roster. Jock Landale will start at center for Sengun, and Adams will be the first center off the bench. Reed Sheppard and Cam Whitmore will man backcourt duties for what could be a lopsided affair.

Brooks lands on the injury report with a right knee contusion, which he suffered during Saturday’s loss to the Kings. If he’s unable to play on Monday, Cam Whitmore or Jae’Sean Tate (who’s a superior defender to Whitmore) may enter the rotation. Neither would be worth streaming in most fantasy leagues.