The Houston Rockets are worried that rising star Christian Wood may be “out of action for an extended period” after injuring his ankle in Thursday’s win in Memphis, according to ESPN Tim MacMahon. Wood seemed to roll his right ankle badly, which initially twisted in mid-January, when he stepped on the foot of the Ja Morant Grizzlies guard.
The wood hit the ground with agony and obvious discomfort. After standing still for much of the timeout, Wood initially tried to stay in the game to throw free throws, as not shooting him would disqualify him. But Wood’s teammates told him about the idea and he headed for the tunnel, where a wheelchair was waiting for him.
According to Memphis reporters, Wood was still in a wheelchair and with crutches in his hand as he left the arena after the game.
In 20 minutes against the Grizzlies, Wood scored 17 points (70% FG) and 7 rebounds, when Houston took the lead by 21 points at the time of his departure. For the 2020-21 season, the 25-year-old entered Thursday with an average of 22.3 points (55.3% FG) and 10.4 rebounds in 31.9 minutes per game, including 39 , 7% in triples. They are all top professionals.
Wood’s injury comes at a terrible time for the growing Rockets (11-10), who won for the seventh time in eight games in Memphis.
Houston’s next game comes home Saturday against San Antonio. Given that Wood retired and appeared to be aggravating a previous injury, it would be a surprise if he could return quickly. “I don’t know,” Silas said after the game. “It didn’t look very good.”
“It was hard for me,” Silas said. “I had to sit down, pick up my thoughts and get together. As good as he’s been playing, a break-up season and doing everything we need him to do. … Yeah, it sucks. “
MacMahon reports that Wood will on Friday he will undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the injury, along with a potential schedule to return.