Machado Recalled From D-League

Shown here at July's Malone-Mulhall Benefit Game on Long Island, Scott Machado is back in NBA after being recalled from NBDL by Rockets earlier today.  (Photo courtesy of New York Post)

Every now and then, you get a second chance to make a first impression.  Scott Machado got his earlier this afternoon.

The former Iona point guard was recalled by the Houston Rockets after two games with the team's NBDL affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.  Machado was brought back up to the professional club along with forward Donatas Motiejunas after averaging 16 points per game to go with eight assists and five rebounds.

"It was great," Machado told the Houston Chronicle after being informed of the executive decision.  "Something new, something I had to get accustomed to.  I made the best of it."  The reigning MAAC Player of the Year also tweeted earlier in the day that "to do some things you've never done, you're gonna have to go some places you've never been," perhaps an allusion to the unexpected detour in his professional career. 

With Jeremy Lin and Toney Douglas ahead of him on the point guard depth chart, Machado may not get the 34 minutes per game he averaged in his brief developmental league stint, but the likelihood of him seeing the court for the first time as an NBA player has increased with his callup.  The Rockets had retained the guard on the roster to begin the season after waiving Shaun Livingston on the final day of the preseason, but head coach Kevin McHale failed to activate Machado for each of Houston's first seven games.

Machado should be available for the Rockets tomorrow night as the team hosts the Toronto Raptors in an 8pm Eastern time tipoff from the Toyota Center.  If activated, he will wear No. 1.