Houston Rockets star Christian Wood, who is getting All-Star attention this season, left Thursday’s game in Memphis after rolling the same right ankle that caused him to miss three games in January.
Wood was fouled in a transition game by Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, and when he went down, he hit the floor in pain. After spending much of the time out, Wood initially tried to stay in the game to shoot the free throws, as he wouldn’t shoot if he didn’t. But Wood’s teammates talked him out of the idea, and he stumbled into the tunnel — where a wheelchair was waiting for him.
In 20 minutes against the Grizzlies, Wood had 17 points (70% FG) and 7 rebounds while Houston drove to a 21 point lead at the time of departure. For the 2020-21 season, the 25-year-old big man came in on Thursday with an average of 22.3 points (55.3% FG) and 10.4 rebounds in 31.9 minutes per game, including 39.7% on 3 pointers. They are all career high.
Wood’s injury comes at a terrible time for the soaring Rockets (11-10), who won for the seventh time in eight games in Memphis.
Houston’s next game comes home against San Antonio on Saturday. Considering that Wood was being driven away and it appeared to be an exacerbation of a previous injury, it would be a surprise if he can return soon. “I don’t know,” Silas said after the game. “It didn’t look great.”
“It was hard for me,” said Silas. “I had to sit down, organize my thoughts and organize myself. As good as he has played, a breakout season and everything we need him to do. … Yeah, it sucks. “
ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reports that Wood will undergo an MRI on Friday to determine the severity, as well as a possible time frame to return.