Report: Rockets' Tucker withdraws from World Cup due to injury

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 09: P.J. Tucker #44 of the 2019 USA Men's National Team is greeted by people being assisted by the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) before the 2019 USA Basketball Men's National Team Blue-White exhibition game at T-Mobile Arena on August 9, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Ethan Miller / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The hits keep on coming for Team USA.

Houston Rockets forward P.J. Tucker withdrew from the FIBA World Cup due to an ankle injury he suffered in Thursday's practice and will instead prepare for Rockets training camp, league sources told The Athletic's Shams Charania.

He was diagnosed with a minor left ankle sprain and will return to Houston for treatment, according to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle.

Tucker's 3-and-D skill set would've provided head coach Gregg Popovich with some additional lineup flexibility.

The 34-year-old averaged 7.3 points, 5.8 boards, and 1.6 steals per contest across 82 appearances last season.

With the loss of Tucker, only 14 players remain in consideration for the United States' final 12-man World Cup roster.

XRedditFacebookWhatsAppEmailSMS