The Houston Rockets dropped four of five games last February in their lone extended stretch of the season with Fred VanVleet sidelined. Houston's young core will be similarly tested ahead of the All-Star break beginning Feb. 14

Rockets coach Ime Udoka could not provide an exact timetable for Fred VanVleet's return from a right-ankle strain.

VanVleet hasn’t been the sole reason for the Rockets’ improvement — they added fellow vet Dillon Brooks and are seeing growth from young players like Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, Tari Eason and more — but there’s no coincidence that his arrival coincided so directly with Houston’s climb to the top of the standings.

Houston Rockets point guard Fred VanVleet is considered “week-to-week” with an ankle injury that kept him out of Monday night’s road game against the New York Knicks, portending a longer absence

The Houston Rockets (32-16) will begin a four-game road trip against the New York Knicks (32-17) on Monday night at Madison Square Garden. Ahead of the 7:30 p.m. ET tipoff, the Rockets have listed center Alperen Sengun as questionable with a left calf contusion,