Rockets forward Luc Mbah a Moute has been cleared to play in the Rockets Game 1 against the Jazz on Sunday, returning after missing the first-round playoff series against the Timberwolves with a dislocated shoulder.
"We have to get him back," D'Antoni said. "We need him. He was out two-and-a-half weeks or so. Hopefully there isn't too much rust. He was important for us all year. It's great to get him back."
Mbah a Moute dislocated his left shoulder on a dunk April 10 in Los Angeles. If the Rockets final regular season game against the Jazz, he had 15 fourth-quarter points while playing center with Clint Capela, Nene and Ryan Anderson out. His return would give the Rockets 10 rotation players, with options to play Mbah a Moute as a backup forward if Gerald Green remains as the backup at small forward, with Anderson potentially playing at power forward or center.
"One game, Luc played the five," D'Antoni said. "It just gives us another weapon. Obviously, it's going to affect Gerald. It's going to affect Joe. It's going to affect Trevor (Ariza). That's also the beauty of it. Now, it's we're all in this, play the best we can. If anybody is called on for two minutes, you better go. You got to do it. You can't be, 'I'd like to have more minutes' or whatever.
"Depth is good. More in the regular season than the playoffs. But having different weapons is good anytime. It not only gives us depth, it gives us another weapon."
HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 09: Luc Mbah a Moute #12 of the Houston Rockets takes a shot before the game against the Denver Nuggets at Toyota Center on February 9, 2018 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.