The Houston Rockets are concerned that star center Christian Wood could be sidelined for an extended period of time after injuring his right ankle for the second time in less than three weeks, sources told ESPN.
Wood will undergo an MRI Friday to determine the severity of the injury he sustained when he horribly rolled his ankle during the third quarter of Thursday’s 115-103 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
“I don’t know,” Rockets coach Stephen Silas said of the severity of the injury. ‘It didn’t look great. It was unfortunate.’
Wood, who has emerged as an All-Star candidate by averaging 22.0 points and 10.2 rebounds per game in his first season with the Rockets, missed three games after spraining his right ankle on January 20.
Wood injured the ankle again as he crossed the track in the transition against the Grizzlies. He landed awkwardly when he split Memphis defenders Dillon Brooks and Ja Morant and immediately went down in agony.
After getting back to his feet, Wood limped slowly off the floor during the ensuing timeout. He went back onto the field to try the free throws after a foul on Morant, but John Wall and other teammates talked to Wood about leaving the game. He limped off the floor with the help of teammates and was taken to the locker room in a wheelchair.
“It was difficult for me,” said Silas. “I had to enjoy sitting down and collecting my thoughts and collecting myself. As well as he played, I mean, really just like a breakout season and doing whatever we needed him to do … Yes, it sucks. “