Jeremy Lin almost caught a bad break at a most inopportune time.
Only one game removed from his sensational 38-points, seven-assist performance against Tony Parker's San Antonio Spurs, a sprained ankle was seen as a possible deterrent that could have kept Houston Rockets point guard from being able to play Wednesday night's game against the Washington Wizards.
However, Space City hoops fans can rejoice in that Lin will in fact play when the Rockets (9-11) host the Washington Wizards (3-15) at the Toyota Center at 8 p.m. EST/ 7 p.m. CST.
As the Houston Chronicle reports, Lin sprained his ankle only five minutes into Tuesday's workout after landing on his foot the wrong way while cutting on a defensive drill.
While Lin was able to walk off on his own, the Rockets' $25 million investment was listed as questionable for Wednesday against the Wizards.
The near-injury could have been costly for both Lin and Houston.
For the Rockets, it would have placed them in the uncomfortable position of playing without either of their stars, Lin or James Harden, who did not play Monday--ironically enough, also due to an ankle injury--and is listed as probable for the game against the league-worst Wizards as the Rockets look to snap a three-game losing streak.
For Lin, it could have stunted a valuable opportunity to build some offensive momentum following a breakout performance in Houston this week that had shades of "Linsanity" all over it.
However, as Lin said Wednesday before the game, it was "all systems go" for him heading into the Washington game.
"I'm good, really good," Lin said. "I'm definitely just fine."
While Harden continues to recover, Lin--who shot 51 percent from the field Monday night in his sensational game against the Spurs--will be looking to capitalize as he seeks to regain the form he had last season when he had his breakthrough in New York.
"I think it's big for me to try to keep the same mindset, understand that I can't always control whether my shot is going in, if I get in a zone," Lin said. "I can control my mindset and my attitude, the mentality I come out with.
"It's not always about getting shots up. It's about the mentality of being aggressive, trying to make plays. When I just try to make plays, it just naturally comes. I think it was a combination of a few things. The game before (against Dallas) I didn't get to play that much, but in the time I was I was trying to be really aggressive. It was something I was trying to build some momentum for."
As for whether the ankle would be an issue tonight on his game, Lin didn't seem too worried.
"I knew I was going to play," Lin said. "I thought it would be a little sore. It is, but not bad."