Christian Wood not with team heading into Friday game vs. Pistons [UPDATE]

UPDATE: Jan. 22, 3:21 p.m. — Wood is being listed as doubtful to play in Saturday’s game vs. the Dallas Mavericks.

UPDATE: Jan. 21, 3:03 p.m. — Wood has already been ruled out for Friday’s game vs. the Pistons. So the Rockets will be without their best player and we get no revenge narrative after the Pistons failed to re-sign Wood during the offseason. Lose-Lose.

Houston Rockets head coach Stephen Silas told reporters Thursday that forward Christian Wood is listed as “very questionable” with an ankle injury for Friday’s game against the Detroit Pistons.

The 25-year-old forward initially suffered the injury in the first half Wednesday night’s game against the Phoenix Suns. Wood ultimately returned back to game action and played 34 minutes in the Rockets’ 109-103 loss. He was the team’s third-leading scorer with 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. This season, Wood is averaging 23.5 points and 10.8 rebounds in 12 games played. He is also shooting 52.8 percent from the field and 36.2 percent from three-point range.

If Wood cannot play in the Rockets’ first game of a back-to-back, then Silas will likely turn to veteran center DeMarcus Cousins. This season, Cousins has been coming off the bench for the Rockets. He is averaging 6.2 points and 5.9 rebounds in 14.2 minutes per game.