Donatas Motiejunas closer to returning to practice for Houston Rockets

Donatas Motiejunas has been cleared to begin sprints by doctors as he inches closer to be cleared by the Houston Rockets' medical staff to return to practice. Donuts had lumbar microdiscectomy surgery on April 9. He began full work outs just two weeks ago.

It is uncertain at this point if he will be able to return to the Rockets lineup in time for the season opener on Oct. 28 against the Denver Nuggets. The Rockets coaching and medical staff have not ruled it out.

With Montrezl Harrell also out of the lineup for the time being with a thigh bruise, we can expect to see a lot of Terrence Jones and probably Chris Walker getting a large portion of minutes at the power forward spot during the preseason.

Kevin McHale feels it could be an adventure, as Jonathan Feigen reports:

"I already know, especially with D-Mo (Donatas Motiejunas) being out (and) Montrezl (Harrell), once we get a player or two deeper than you want to go, it will be adventuresome."