Rockets recall Donatas Motiejunas and K.J. McDaniels

The Rockets have recalled both Donatas Motiejunas and K.J. McDaniels from the Rio Grande Valley Vipers today.

Rockets Recall K.J. McDaniels and Donatas Motiejunas from Rio Grande Valley

— Dr. Joshua Reese (@MrJoshua) February 1, 2016

Motiejunas played just one game this weekend for the Vipers before being called back up to the Rockets, a sign that his back responded well to game play and the Rockets think he's ready to again try NBA action.

D-Mo's played in just 14 games this season, as he's still working his way back from surgery to fix a herniated disc. Though even when active, he hasn't exactly looked like the player we were hoping for this season, averaging just 5.6 points and 2.1 rebounds in 13.4 minutes per game.

Game conditioning has been a big issue for Motiejunas, and the only way to fix that is with more playing time, as he told the McAllen Monitor after this weekend's tilt with the Vipers:

"I tried to play harder and harder every minute. The more time I was getting, the more comfortable I was getting."

McDaniels has been back and forth between the Association and the D-League all season, and he too, has mostly struggled when on the court with the Rockets, averaging only 1.4 points and 0.9 rebounds on 32 percent shooting. He's played just 59 minutes combined this year in 15 appearances for Houston.

The Rockets play again Tuesday night at home against the Miami Heat.