Rockets' Dorian Finney-Smith: Cleared for regular-season debut
Rotowire
Finney-Smith (ankle) is available for Thursday's game against the Lakers, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
Finney-Smith underwent surgery during the offseason to repair an injury to his left ankle. He has progressed enough in his recovery to play Christmas Day and will operate under a minutes restriction in his 2025-26 regular-season debut. As Finney-Smith gets up to full speed, fewer minutes will be available for the likes of Josh Okogie and Jae'Sean Tate.
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Rockets' Dorian Finney-Smith: Chance to return Christmas Day
Rotowire
Finney-Smith (ankle) is listed as questionable for Thursday's game against the Lakers.
Finney-Smith has yet to appear in a game this season as he continues to recover from offseason ankle surgery. The veteran forward was eyeing a January return, but it looks like he's slightly ahead of schedule. If cleared to face the Lakers on Christmas Day, Finney-Smith would likely be under a significant minutes restriction. Still, his return could mean fewer opportunities for Jae'Sean Tate or Josh Okogie.
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Rockets' Dorian Finney-Smith: Likely out through December
Rotowire
The Rockets are eyeing January for Finney-Smith (ankle) to make his season debut, Michael Shapiro of SI.com reports.
The target month would appear to rule out the veteran forward for the rest of December. However, Finney-Smith is beginning to ramp up his basketball activity with live action in practice. Until Finney-Smith is fully recovered from ankle surgery, Josh Okogie should play meaningful minutes.
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Rockets' Dorian Finney-Smith: Remains out for Houston
Rotowire
Finney-Smith (ankle) will not play Monday against the Jazz.
Finney-Smith continues to rehab from offseason ankle surgery and remains without an official timetable to return. He can be considered week-to-week moving forward.
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Rockets' Dorian Finney-Smith: Not playing Sunday
Rotowire
Finney-Smith (ankle) is out for Sunday's game against the Jazz.
Finney-Smith is still recovering from the left ankle surgery he underwent in June. The veteran forward doesn't have a concrete timetable to make his 2025-26 season debut.
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Rockets' Dorian Finney-Smith: Ruled out for Monday
Rotowire
Finney-Smith (ankle) has been ruled out for Monday's game against the Suns.
Finney-Smith is still recovering from left ankle surgery he underwent in June and has yet to make his season debut. He can be considered week-to-week until the Rockets provide a timeline for his return to game action.
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Rockets' Dorian Finney-Smith: Remains without return timetable
Rotowire
Finney-Smith (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game in Milwaukee and doesn't have a return timetable.
Finney-Smith underwent left ankle surgery back in June, and the Rockets have provided scarce updates on his status ever since. On Oct. 18, head coach Ime Udoka toldMichael Shapiro of SI.com that Finney-Smith was behind schedule in his recovery, but the Rockets haven't offered up any sort of timeline regarding when the veteran forward might play. Consider Finney-Smith week-to-week until the Rockets indicate that he's resumed practicing.
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Rockets' Dorian Finney-Smith: Sidelined once again
Rotowire
Finney-Smith (ankle) is out for Friday's game against the Spurs.
Finney-Smith has yet to make his Rockets debut while recovering from offseason left ankle surgery. The next chance for the veteran forward to suit up will come against the Bucks on Sunday.
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Rockets' Dorian Finney-Smith: Ruled out Wednesday
Rotowire
Finney-Smith (ankle) has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Grizzlies.
Finney-Smith has not yet made his Rockets debut this season as he recovers from offseason left ankle surgery. The veteran forward's next chance to suit up will be Friday against the Spurs, though he can be considered doubtful until the team provides an update.
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Rockets' Dorian Finney-Smith: Won't play Monday
Rotowire
Finney-Smith (knee) has been ruled out for Monday's game against the Mavericks.
Finney-Smith has yet to make his Rockets debut as he continues to recover from offseason left ankle surgery. The veteran forward's next opportunity to take the court will come Wednesday against the Grizzlies, but with no clear timetable for his return, it doesn't appear that a comeback is imminent.
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Rockets' Dorian Finney-Smith: Listed out for Saturday
Rotowire
Finney-Smith (ankle) is out for Saturday's game against the Celtics.
Finney-Smith has been out of action since training camp while he recovers from offseason left ankle surgery. The veteran forward should play meaningful minutes when healthy, but his return doesn't seem to be imminent. Until Finney-Smith is ready to play, Tari Eason has one less obstacle to climb for playing time.
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Rockets' Dorian Finney-Smith: Won't play vs. Toronto
Rotowire
Finney-Smith (ankle) has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Raptors.
Finney-Smith's debut with his new squad will remain on hold due to an ankle injury. The next chance for him to return to the floor will be Saturday against the Celtics.
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Rockets' Dorian Finney-Smith: Won't play Monday
Rotowire
Finney-Smith (ankle) has been ruled out for Monday's game against the Nets.
Finney-Smith will miss his third consecutive game to start the regular season as he continues to recover from left ankle surgery he underwent in June. The veteran forward remains without a timetable for a return, so he can be considered doubtful for Wednesday's game against the Raptors until the Rockets provide another update.
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Rockets' Dorian Finney-Smith: Remains without timetable
Rotowire
Finney-Smith (ankle) remains without a timetable to return, Michael Shapiro of SI.com reports.
According to coach Ime Udoka, Finney-Smith is a "bit behind" Jae'Sean Tate (ankle), who is hopeful to play on Opening Night. For now, it seems likely that Finney-Smith will miss a handful of games to open the 2025-26 season.
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Rockets' Dorian Finney-Smith: Status in doubt for season opener
Rotowire
Finney-Smith (ankle) is unlikely to be ready to play for the start of the regular season, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.
After undergoing offseason left ankle surgery, Finney-Smith still hasn't been cleared for contact and appears to be doubtful for Opening Night. The veteran forward should play meaningful minutes for the Rockets when healthy, so his absence should create more playing time for Tari Eason in the frontcourt. Jae'Sean Tate and Josh Okogie also have a chance to carve out a role in the early going.
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Dorian Finney-Smith: Declines player option Sunday
Rotowire
Finney-Smith (ankle) declined his $15.4 million player option with the Lakers on Sunday, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
Finney-Smith will enter free agency and is expected to draw interest from several contending teams. The 3-and-D forward shot a career-best 41.1 percent from beyond the arc across 63 regular-season games (40 starts) between Brooklyn and Los Angeles last season, averaging 8.7 points and 3.9 rebounds in 28.9 minutes per contest. The 32-year-old recently underwent surgery on his left ankle but is expected to be ready for training camp.
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Lakers' Dorian Finney-Smith: Undergoes surgery on ankle
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Finney-Smith underwent successful surgery on his left ankle and is expected to be ready for training camp, Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com reports.
Finney-Smith heads into the NBA offseason with a player option on his contract with the Lakers worth $15.3 million. Even after undergoing ankle surgery, he'll likely remain a priority for the Lakers in free agency, whether he decides to opt into his contract or opt out in hopes of getting a long-term deal. After the Nets traded him in December of 2024, the veteran forward played 43 regular-season games for Los Angeles and averaged 7.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game, shooting 44.2 percent from the field and 39.8 percent from deep.
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Lakers' Dorian Finney-Smith: Adds seven points in Game 5 loss
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Finney-Smith fouled out of Wednesday's 103-96 loss to the Timberwolves in Game 5 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs after recording seven points (3-5 FG, 1-3 3Pt), four rebounds, two assists and one steal in 29 minutes.
Finney-Smith joined the starting lineup for Wednesday's clash but failed to capitalize on the opportunity, as he was held to single figures in scoring for the fifth straight game. He averaged 6.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists in a series that was mostly dominated by Minnesota, with the loss bringing a swift end to LA's championship aspirations. One bright spot for Finney-Smith over the course of the 2024-25 regular season was his remarkable improvement from beyond the arc, as he hit at a clip of 41.1 percent from deep across 63 games, marking a new career high.
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Lakers' Dorian Finney-Smith: Jumps into starting five
Rotowire
Finney-Smith is part of the first unit for Wednesday's game against the Timberwolves, Ryan Ward of LakersNation.com reports.
Finney-Smith has played at least 29 minutes in each of the first four games of the series but will get his first start in Game 5, replacing Jaxon Hayes. Finney-Smith is averaging 6.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists across 35.3 minutes per game this series.
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Lakers' Dorian Finney-Smith: Logs 41 minutes
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Finney-Smith had six points (2-7 FG, 2-6 3Pt), eight rebounds, six assists and one block over 41 minutes during Sunday's 116-113 loss to the Timberwolves in Game 4 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Due to a brutal start by Jaxson Hayes, coach J.J. Redick rode with Finney-Smith for most of the night. Finney-Smith started the second half and didn't come out for any breaks. With the season on the line for Los Angeles, it's likely that Finney-Smith again plays a featured role in Game 5 next to Rui Hachimura.
