Garuba finished with two points (1-3 FG, 0-2 3Pt), two rebounds and one block over nine minutes during Friday's 112-109 win over the Hornets.
Garuba barely saw the court in the victory, continuing what has been an underwhelming season. Despite head coach Stephen Silas running some awful rotations at times, Garuba has failed to take advantage of his limited opportunities. While Garuba has youth on his side, it's hard to see him being anything more than a minor piece, at least for the foreseeable future.
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Rockets' Usman Garuba: Plays 19 minutes in loss
Rotowire
Garuba amassed seven points (3-5 FG, 1-2 3Pt) and three rebounds over 19 minutes during Monday's 121-108 loss to Golden State.
With Alperen Sengun (illness) sidelined, Garuba played his most minutes since Jan. 28, but he still struggled to make a significant impact. Across 11 March appearances, the second-year big man is averaging 3.6 points and 3.2 rebounds in 11.4 minutes per game.
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Rockets' Usman Garuba: Nails two straight triples late
Rotowire
Garuba contributed six points (2-2 FG, 2-2 3Pt), four rebounds and three assists in 12 minutes during Monday's 111-109 win over the Celtics.
With Alperen Sengun sitting out (groin), the Rockets went small for the majority of Monday's game, but Garuba was able to make an impact in minimal minutes by knocking down two shots in a row from deep in the middle of the fourth quarter. It gave Houston an eight-point cushion after a surging Boston team was making a comeback. The young big also put up some decent rebounding and assist numbers in his short time on the court. It's an atypical amount of production from him though, as he also went scoreless over his last three contests prior to Monday's win.
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Rockets' Usman Garuba: Makes most of limited minutes
Rotowire
Garuba totaled 11 points (3-3 FG, 3-3 3Pt, 2-2 FT), three rebounds and one assist across nine minutes during Saturday's 122-110 win over the Spurs.
Garuba needed just nine minutes to make an impact off the bench, but he entered the action when the game was already decided and is not expected to play a significant role going forward. Even though his performance looks decent at first glance, he's not going to produce at this rate -- or with this efficiency -- in Houston's upcoming contests.
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Rockets' Usman Garuba: Limited minutes again
Rotowire
Garuba produced five points (2-3 FG, 1-1 3Pt), two rebounds and two steals across nine minutes during Monday's 123-104 loss to Philadelphia.
Garuba hasn't been a consistent part of the rotation and it's mainly because Kenyon Martin is standing in his way. Garuba will likely get an opportunity at some point down the stretch, but for now minutes will be hard to come by.
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Rockets' Usman Garuba: Unproductive again in loss
Rotowire
Garuba logged two points (1-2 FG), three rebounds and one assist in 13 minutes during Tuesday's 126-102 loss to the Celtics.
Garuba turned in another quiet performance Tuesday, providing little in the way of stats. He continues to play consistent minutes off the bench despite a lack of production. Garuba should not be on the radar in any fantasy format.
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Rockets' Usman Garuba: Grabs 10 boards in loss
Rotowire
Garuba registered four points (2-3 FG), 10 rebounds and one block over 17 minutes during Saturday's 120-101 loss to the Warriors.
Garuba came off the bench to grab a season-high 10 rebounds, a minor high point in what has been a ho-hum season thus far. While he has played in every game, his playing time typically fluctuates from one night to the next, making him a consideration in deeper formats only.
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Rockets' Usman Garuba: Scores nine in win
Rotowire
Garuba recorded nine points (1-2 FG, 0-1 3PT, 7-8 FT), five rebounds, three assists, one steal and two blocks across 19 minutes in Friday's 128-122 victory over the Hawks.
Garuba continues to play around 20 minutes per game off the bench for the Rockets. Barring an injury in Houston's frontcourt, he figures to continue taking on the same role going forward.
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Rockets' Usman Garuba: Nearly posts double-double in win
Rotowire
Garuba ended Wednesday's 101-92 victory over the Mavericks with 12 points (5-5 FG, 2-2 3Pt), nine rebounds, three assists and three blocks over 22 minutes.
Garuba came off the bench again during Wednesday's matchup, and he was perfect from the floor en route to double figures for the first time this season. He also set a new season high in rebounds and matched season-high marks in assists and blocks, falling just shy of a double-double in the victory.
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Rockets' Usman Garuba: Blocks three shots Monday
Rotowire
Garuba had five points (2-4 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 1-2 FT), four rebounds, two assists, three blocks and one steal in 17 minutes during Monday's 122-106 loss to the Clippers.
Garuba blocked a career-high three shots in the loss, as he continues to log meaningful minutes. In 18.2 minutes per game, he has elevated himself to be the 115th-ranked fantasy player over the past week thanks largely to his 2.0 blocks per contest. While the rank would have him on the standard-league radar, managers should view him as nothing more than a streaming option moving forward.
The Rockets exercised Garuba's $2.59 million team option for the 2023-24 season Sunday.
Garuba has had somewhat limited playing time for Houston early in his professional career, but the 2021 first-round pick will remain under contract with the team for at least one more year. Over the first four matchups of the 2022-23 season, he's averaged 3.0 points and 4.3 rebounds in 12.3 minutes per game.
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Rockets' Usman Garuba: Back in bench role
Rotowire
Garuba will come off the bench Monday against the Jazz, Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Garuba drew a spot start for Bruno Fernando (knee) Saturday against Milwaukee, but he'll head back to the bench Monday evening, as Eric Gordon, Kenyon Martin and Jabari Smith will start in the frontcourt. Garuba fared well in limited shot attempts in his only action of the 2022-23 season, finishing with six points, eight rebounds, two assists and four steals in 25 minutes.
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Rockets' Usman Garuba: Starting for injured Fernando
Rotowire
Garuba will start Saturday's game against the Bucks with Bruno Fernando (knee) sidelined, Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Coach Stephen Silas loves bringing Alperen Sengun off the bench, so Garuba gets the nod Saturday after not playing in either of the Rockets' first two games. In Garuba's two starts as a rookie last year, he averaged 4.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 blocks in 28.0 minutes.
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Rockets' Usman Garuba: Healthy for training camp
Rotowire
Garuba (ankle) is healthy and available for training camp, Ben DuBose of USA Today reports.
Garuba suffered a Grade 2 ankle sprain during Summer League and was sidelined for a few weeks. However, as expected, the second-year forward is good to go for training camp. He appeared in 24 games as a rookie, posting 2.0 points and 3.5 rebounds across 10.0 minutes.
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Rockets' Usman Garuba: Out for rest of Summer League
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Garuba (ankle) will sit out the remainder of Summer League, Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Garuba was diagnosed with a Grade 2 ankle sprain and will be sidelined for at least two weeks. He should be ready for training camp.
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Rockets' Usman Garuba: Out Thursday
Rotowire
Garuba suffered a sprained left ankle and is out for Thursday's Summer League game against the Magic, Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Garuba is hopeful of playing during Saturday's game against the Thunder. He appeared in 24 games for the Rockets last season as a rookie and averaged 2.0 points and 3.5 rebounds in 10.0 minutes.
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Rockets' Usman Garuba: Making first career start
Rotowire
Garuba will start Wednesday's game against the Kings, Cayleigh Griffin of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.
The rookie first-round pick will make his first NBA start with Alperen Sengun (lower leg) sidelined and Christian Wood (hamstring) out for the season. Garuba put up five points (1-2 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 2-2 FT), three rebounds and one assist in 14 minutes Monday but is now poised to see more run.
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Rockets' Usman Garuba: Slated to miss at least a week
Rotowire
Coach Stephen Silas said Friday that Garuba (ankle) will be re-evaluated in a week, Cayleigh Griffin of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.
Garuba turned his ankle in Sunday's loss to the Pelicans, and the injury is considered more serious than a day-to-day issue. Silas is hopeful that the rookie will be back in action prior to the end of the regular season, but he'll likely be forced to miss at least three more games before he's re-evaluated.
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Rockets' Usman Garuba: Out Friday
Rotowire
Garuba is out Friday against the Pacers due to a sprained ankle, Adam Spolane of Sports Radio 610 Houston reports.
Garuba made his return Sunday from a long-term wrist injury, but he's suffered a sprained ankle and will be out Friday. His next chance to take the court is Sunday against the Grizzlies.
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Rockets' Usman Garuba: Makes return Sunday
Rotowire
Garuba (wrist) played seven minutes off the bench in Sunday's 130-105 loss to the Pelicans, finishing with three points (1-1 FG, 1-1 3Pt), three rebounds, one steal and one block.
Though Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reported Thursday that Garuba would be re-evaluated this week for a potential return to the lineup, the rookie big man made a surprise return off the bench during garbage time of Sunday's contest. Garuba produced well during his limited minutes, and with the Rockets firmly out of contention as the season winds down, it's possible the 20-year-old first-round pick gets a longer look. Before making his return from a seven-week absence due to a fractured left wrist, Garuba had made only 14 appearances on the season for Houston, averaging 1.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.6 assists in 7.3 minutes.
