LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. — Houston Rockets forward Danuel House Jr.‘s status for the remainder of the Western Conference semifinals is in jeopardy as the NBA probes a potential violation of campus protocol, sources told ESPN.
House, the Rockets’ sixth man, has denied any violation on a matter that has the league probing House’s activity within the team hotel, sources said.
House did not leave the perimeter of the campus, sources said.
House was a late scratch for the Rockets’ Game 3 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers due to what the Rockets termed as “personal reasons,” and sources say there’s no indication that the league will allow him to play Game 4 on Thursday night. The Lakers lead the Rockets 2-1 in the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinals series.
The National Basketball Players Association has been talking to league officials on House’s behalf, and trying to find a resolution to the issue, sources said.
The NBA is believed to be considering whether House could be subjected to a 10-day quarantine period for an alleged violation, sources said.
Rockets teammate Bruno Caboclo and Sacramento Kings center Richaun Holmes had to spend 10 days in quarantine for violations of campus protocol soon after teams reported to the Walt Disney World Resort for the NBA’s restart.
Team and league officials have declined to specify the nature of House’s violation.
House has averaged 11.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game during the playoffs. Houston coach Mike D’Antoni referred to House as one of the league’s most underrated two-way players on Tuesday, a day before the forward had to sit out a pivotal game in the series against the Lakers.