Clint Capela of Houston Rockets out until February after thumb surgery
By Field Level Media
Last Updated: 18/01/19 7:10am
Houston Rockets center Clint Capela is expected to be out for four to six weeks after undergoing surgery on a thumb injury.
Capela incurred the problem to his right thumb in their 109-116 defeat to the Orlando Magic on Sunday and is now expected to be on the sidelines until at least mid-February, according to Rockets general manager Daryl Morey.
Capela, who signed a five-year, $80m contract extension this summer, has career-high averages of 17.6 points and 12.6 rebounds in 34.2 minutes through 42 games this season, along with 1.8 block shots a game.
According to ESPN sources, the Rockets expect him to miss the remaining 15 games before the All-Star break, then possibly return for a February 21 game at the Los Angeles Lakers.
Capela joins Chris Paul (hamstring) and Brandon Knight (knee) on the injured list, while Eric Gordon (knee) remains day-to-day, leaving the Rockets in survival mode, even with James Harden playing at the top of his game.
"Thirty-three minutes of All-Star-level basketball - you can't make that up," Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni said recently.
"Other guys are going to have to step up and play and play well, and we'll have to figure out different ways... [getting] Chris back will help as soon as we can.
"But in the meantime, you're not going to replace Clint. We're going to try to do as well as we can to play around [his absence]. I still think we've got enough to hang in there until he gets back."
