HOUSTON -- Houston Rockets starting power forward Terrence Jones missed Thursday's practice with bruised ribs. It's not considered serious, though coach Kevin McHale said he isn't sure when Jones will return.
Jones suffered the injury Wednesday and left midway through the session.
It's the first injury of training camp for the Rockets, who are also missing power forward Donatas Motiejunas as he recovers from back surgery.
McHale isn't putting his team through two-a-day practices because several players are coming back from physical ailments, including starting center Dwight Howard, who played in a career-low 41 games last season, and point guard Patrick Beverley, who missed the postseason after undergoing wrist surgery.
"I just thought [practices could go] a little bit longer," McHale said. "We just had a lot of guys I thought needed the one day, and it would be better for them. Dwight coming off where he was and some other people, I thought we'd do it this way."
Jones played in just 33 games last season because of various injuries. He missed 40 games with nerve inflammation in his left leg, three with the flu, and six more with a collapsed lung.
Before Jones' injured his ribs Wednesday, McHale said the power forward was making positive strides and quicker decisions. At the start of training camp, some thought that Motiejunas would challenge Jones for the starting power forward spot. If that's the case, Jones appears to have the lead in the early going.
With both out, second-round pick Montrezl Harrell and Chris Walker will see time at the position in camp.
