Trevor Ariza Injury: Updates on Rockets Forward's Back and Return

Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza left the team's Dec. 8 game against the Brooklyn Nets because of a back injury. However, he's ready to return.

Continue for updates.

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Ariza Will Play vs. Lakers

Saturday, Dec. 12

Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News reported Ariza is active for Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

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Ariza's Defense a Vital Piece to Rockets 

Ariza, in his second season of his second stint with the Rockets, was coming off of a 2014-15 season in which he appeared in all 82 games for just the second time in his 11-year career. 

He started Houston's first 22 games this season before missing the Dec. 9 matchup vs. Washington.

The veteran has made his name in the NBA by implementing stellar defense on the wing. The 6'8" forward holds the kind of athleticism that allows him to keep up with some of the league's best shooters from range and the physicality to do the hard work down low.

Rockets interim head coach J.B. Bickerstaff spoke with Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle about Ariza's defense:

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We believe Trevor can guard one-through-four and he can shut them down. He does a great job of not letting guys touch the ball. These great scorers can’t score if they don’t have the ball. He’s one of the best I’ve seen at playing passing lanes, denying catches and not letting guys get the ball.

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You can see just how good of a defender Ariza is here, as the NBA shows him guarding Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant.

Ariza also brings a solid offensive aspect to his game, in which he's averaged 12 or more points in each of the past two-plus seasons. 

Stats courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com.