The Houston Rockets absorbed a brutal double whammy of medical news during Wednesday’s game at Oklahoma City. Starting point guard Kevin Porter Jr. (left thigh contusion) and star center Christian Wood (right ankle sprain) each left early with injuries.

In both cases, the injury is more concerning because it’s something that has previously caused a multi-game absence. Porter has had off-and-on issues with his thigh since he first bruised it on Nov. 7 at Golden State, and he missed three games to rest the injury late last month. Apparently, that wasn’t enough to fully put it behind the 21-year-old.

Meanwhile, for Wood, it’s the same right ankle that caused him to miss several weeks during the 2020-21 season. When combined with the left hamstring strain suffered last week by rookie guard Jalen Green, Wednesday’s news meant that Houston started the second half without three of its planned five starters. Garrison Mathews, Armoni Brooks and Daniel Theis began the second half alongside the only remaining usual starters (Jae’Sean Tate and Eric Gordon).

Neither injury on Wednesday appeared initially concerning, since both Porter and Wood attempted to return to the game in the second quarter after initially suffering the injury in the first. However, both players didn’t seem to have their usual explosion and did not return after halftime.

The status of both players for Friday’s home game versus Orlando, which is next on Houston’s schedule, is not yet clear. Stephen Silas said postgame that he did not have an update, though he noted that Wood was in a walking boot. The timing is certainly not ideal for the young Rockets (5-16), who won their fourth straight game on Wednesday and are easily playing their best basketball of the 2021-22 season.

Wood entered with averages of 16.8 points and 11.8 rebounds in 32.7 minutes, while Porter is at 13.3 points, 6.1 assists, and 4.8 rebounds in 31.9 minutes. Both of Wood’s figures lead the team in those categories.