Austin Rivers to Play in Rockets vs. Warriors Game 2 After Absence with Illness

After missing Game 1 with an illness, Houston Rockets guard Austin Rivers is expected to play Game 2 against the Golden State Warriors Tuesday, per Mark Berman of Fox 26. 

Rivers averaged 8.7 points per game in 47 appearances for the Rockets this season and made 46.2 percent of three-point attempts during five first-round games against the Utah Jazz.

Iman Shumpert played 21 minutes in Game 1 with Rivers out, his first appearance in four games. He ended up shooting 1-of-4 from the field, all from three-point range, in the 104-100 loss.

Considering the Rockets finished 14-of-47 from beyond the arc against the Warriors, Rivers' shooting ability will be welcomed. His perimeter defense will also be valuable against a team with so many outside scorers like Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.

Meanwhile, Rivers could also lengthen the Rockets rotation by providing more scoring options throughout the game.

In Sunday's loss, James Harden, Eric Gordon and Chris Paul were the only players in double figures and combined to represent 79 percent of the team's scoring. Rivers could provide another option off the bench and force the defense to guard another scoring threat.

These two teams battled for seven games in last year's Western Conference Finals and the series could be just as close this time around. Every contribution could be the difference in wins and losses, with Rivers' return potentially playing a huge factor.