This is a big blow for the Rockets who lost their starting position 4 for at least a month. Jabari Smith fractured his left hand during the “shootaround” which preceded the reception in Boston, and the injury was severe enough for doctors to advise him to have surgery.
Coach Ime Udoka confirmed the bad news, adding that the official duration of his unavailability would not be known until after the operation. For now, Jabari Smith Jr finds himself on the sidelines for an estimated period of between four and six weeks. Regular in his production and also valuable in his quality of deterrence, the interior of the Rockets also brings in commitment and physical impact. We saw it last night against the Celtics where Houston suffered under the boards.
This is a first thorn in the road for the Rockets who continue to fight for second place in the Western Conference with the Grizzlies whom they will face twice in the coming days, in Memphis next Thursday then at home on Monday January 13 .
Since Amen Thompson is suspended and Tari Eason is also injured, Ime Udoka must already rack his brains to try to find solutions (as he did last night) by starting veteran Jeff Green (38) at position 4 and starting Jae'Sean Tate on the wing.
| Jabari Smith, Jr. | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2022-23 | HOU | 79 | 31 | 40.8 | 30.7 | 78.6 | 1.5 | 5.7 | 7.2 | 1.3 | 2.9 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 12.8 |
| 2023-24 | HOU | 76 | 32 | 45.4 | 36.3 | 81.1 | 1.8 | 6.3 | 8.1 | 1.6 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 13.7 |
| 2024-25 | HOU | 33 | 31 | 43.5 | 35.4 | 86.7 | 1.8 | 4.7 | 6.5 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 11.9 |
| Total | 188 | 31 | 43.1 | 33.8 | 80.9 | 1.7 | 5.7 | 7.4 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 13.0 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
