Rockets' Iman Shumpert returns to rotation

Rockets forward Iman Shumpert, who had played in just two of the Rockets' first seven games since the All-Star break, was cleared to return to the rotation on Friday, an opportunity with 18 games left in the regular season that could be a valuable step toward getting him in sync given his limited time since acquired from the Kings at the trade deadline a month before Friday's game.

Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni said, however, he was not concerned with getting Shumpert acclimated as much as up to speed after playing so little since he struggled with a sore knee in his initial three games with the Rockets last month.

"It's really important, not only to give us some depth, but also to round him…