The Rockets reduced their roster to the maximum of 15 players Friday by waiving forward Ryan Bowen and guard Casey Jacobsen, moves that point to their hope Bob Sura can make it back from microfracture knee surgery and his surprising declaration this week that he believes he can.

Bowen was released though he had one more guaranteed season, worth roughly $1 million, on his contract. Bowen had been out through the preseason while coming back from hip surgery to repair the torn labrum that hampered him last season.