SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The Rockets held out Nene Tuesday at Golden State as part of their plan to only play him in one game in back-to-backs. Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni wanted to use small lineup against the Warriors, playing Ryan Anderson and P.J. Tucker as the backup center. But he also wanted Nene available for the Kings.
"I thought we had him for Zach (Randolph)," D'Antoni said of the Kings veteran who was out after oral surgery. "Now, Zach's not playing. That's not good. I should have called Zach and asked him first.
"It's better anyway. I knew we had to go small anyway with Golden State.