Report: Rockets' Austin Rivers Leaves NBA Bubble Because of Family Matter

Houston Rockets guard Austin Rivers is reportedly dealing with an "urgent family matter" and has left the NBA bubble at the Disney World complex in Orlando, Florida.

Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic reported the news Friday.

Rivers is expected back in the bubble "sometime this weekend," per Charania. No further details about the situation were immediately released.

The 27-year-old Duke product is the son of Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers. It's unclear whether his father will also leave the bubble.

Players who exit the NBA bubble are required to quarantine for between four and 10 days upon their return, according to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle.

Rivers averaged 8.5 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.4 threes across 60 appearances for the Rockets before the 2019-20 season was halted March 11 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

He typically worked as the second guard off the bench behind the starting tandem of Russell Westbrook and James Harden and sixth man Eric Gordon.

Ben McLemore, Chris Clemons and Michael Frazier lead the group of Rockets role players who could see more playing time for the duration of Rivers' absence.

Houston sits sixth in the Western Conference with a 40-24 record heading into the shortened eight-game finish to the regular season in Orlando. It's already clinched a playoff berth.

The Rockets' first game of the restart is scheduled for July 31 against the Dallas Mavericks.