Rockets' Jalen Green Aiming to Maintain Durability Following Minor Leg Injury vs. Trail Blazers

Despite sustaining a minor injury against the Trail Blazers Friday night, Jalen Green is hoping to maintain his durability during the Houston Rockets' season finale.

Jalen Green has taken pride in being the only player who has appeared in every game for the Houston Rockets this season. His goal coming into his third year was to play in all 82 games. But midway through Friday's 116-107 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, a minor injury Green sustained could have jeopardized him playing in the Rockets' season finale against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Green went down with a slight shin injury when Trail Blazers' Moses Brown inadvertently fell on his leg inside the Moda Center. Green, who finished with 26 points and nine rebounds, said he was sore after the game. However, he doesn't expect the minor injury to sideline him Sunday against the Clippers.

Apr 12, 2024; Portland, Oregon, USA; Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) grabs his knee in pain

Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports

"He fell on my leg full body; it hurt," Green said. "I'm going to get treatment and play all 82. I've been playing through a lot. But that's a part of the game. You want to be able to go out and perform at the highest level each night. The work I put in throughout the off-season has paid off."

Should Green play against the Clippers to close the 2023-24 season, it will mark the first time he achieved the feat of playing all 82 games since entering the league in 2021. Last season, Green missed the mark by four games due to a groin injury sustained in late February.

The closest Green came to missing a game this season took place before the Rockets' 138-104 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. He was questionable due to an illness but finished with one of his best performances. He scored a then-season-high 36 points on 12 of 20 shooting from the field.
Coach Ime Udoka noted that playing 82 games will be another indication of Green's ongoing growth.

"Being available is a big thing — he had to battle through a lot of adversity and continue to grind it out — which has been great," Udoka said. "Especially in this day and age when guys sit out off of pretty much anything.

"Not only the fact that he's playing a lot of minutes and is an integral player, an integral part of our team. But like I said, just the mentality of some of the young guys today to sit out for any knick and knack. Him playing through stuff has been great."