Rockets forward Ryan Anderson was out against the Jazz on Wednesday, the first game he missed this season with an injury, and he could miss Friday's game in Chicago depending on how he responds to Wednesday's therapy for back spasms.

Guard Eric Gordon moved into the starting lineup, with guard James Harden matching up with Utah's starting power forward, Boris Diaw That could be an option Friday, too, with the Bulls starting Bobby Portis, who would have a decided height advantage at 6-11 but does not post up in the Bulls' offense.

The Rockets have often used Harden to defend big men, including a game against the Grizzlies last week when he matched up in stretches with Memphis' 7-1 center Marc Gasol, believing that allows them to get more firepower and an extra perimeter defender on the floor and gives an advantage in transition.

The Rockets started Corey Brewer, who was since traded to the Lakers, in the first two games Anderson missed this season with the flu. Sam Dekker started the most recent game Anderson was out.

Diaw unleashed under D'Antoni

When Mike D'Antoni was developing his offensive system in Phoenix, it was not all pace-and-space, and Steve Nash running the offense. D'Antoni also helped unlock the creative talents of Boris Diaw, who has produced as a point center over the years, including with the Jazz.

"For sure, that helped me a lot," said Diaw, who played for D'Antoni with the Suns from 2005 to 2008. "That was really a breakout for me, a break-through in the NBA. I got a chance to play pretty freely, play with a lot of reads that we had on the court. It was random, but structured. It was weird leaving a lot of freedom to the players to do something, but knowing you have to make the right decision and always playing with each other."

Said D'Antoni: "He's like a point guard at center. "He was one of the smartest players out there, no doubt about it."

Don't expect more Capela jump shots

Having spent nearly every day working on his jump shot, Rockets center Clint Capela finally got to take one in a game. He'd like to take a few more, but he won't get that chance.

With the ball late in the shot clock in Monday's first half against the Spurs, Capela banked in a 17-footer reminiscent of all those shots Tim Duncan put in from that spot.

"He is petitioning … can he shoot one shot in that area," Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni said. "So far, it's a 'no.'

"If he called the 'bank,' I would have been a little easier (to convince). He didn't call it, so I question a little bit about that shot. It was in San Antonio, so maybe the ball just goes to a bank automatically."

Capela said he still hopes to put up a jumper again.

"If I'm open, I'm going to take it," Capela said. But after a long pause, he added, "At the end of the game, maybe."

Capela, Utah's Gobert have link

Rockets center Clint Capela said he has long looked up to Utah's Rudy Gobert Gobert was a French star on the verge of his jump to the NBA when Capela arrived in Paris from Switzerland and considered Gobert a role model.

"He's a great guy," Gobert said. "He's a guy that's working hard and it's fun to see him. "It's always fun to play against a guy who played with me in France, for sure."