National Basketball Association

Rockets coach misses last preseason game

Published Oct. 23, 2010 2:25 a.m. ET

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Houston Rockets coach Rick Adelman missed his team's final preseason game on Friday night against the Dallas Mavericks with flulike symptoms.

Assistant coach Elston Turner took over in Adelman's place. It is the first time Adelman has missed a game of any kind since taking over the Rockets before the 2007-08 season.

Adelman stayed in the locker room during the game and did not address the media before the game as he usually does. Adelman ranks 11th on the NBA's all-time list for wins.

Turner said the whole coaching staff has been battling a bug.

The Rockets open the season on Tuesday at the Los Angeles Lakers.