Rockets’ Jae’Sean Tate Out With Grade 2 MCL Sprain, Re-Evaluation in Two Weeks

His status clouds Houston’s rotation with seven weeks left in the regular season.

Overview

Coach Ime Udoka said a Grade 2 MCL sprain typically requires four to six weeks of recovery, and the team will reassess Tate in two weeks.
Tate injured his right knee midway through the second quarter of Saturday’s loss in New York and did not return.
After averaging 8.4 minutes this season (2.7 points, 1.4 rebounds), he had recently seen more time, including 13 minutes vs. the Clippers and 15 in a win at Charlotte.
The 30-year-old forward is the Rockets’ longest-tenured player, joining in 2020–21 after playing for Australia’s Sydney Kings, and he had a brief G League stint in January.
With Tate sidelined, Udoka said Dorian Finney-Smith can now play 20–25 minutes per game, and minutes could open for Josh Okogie as Houston considers options for an open roster spot.