As heel improves, Clint Capela blocks more shots for Rockets

The health of Rockets center Clint Capela seems to be improving, as evidenced by a rapid increase in his blocked shots over the past week.

In a development that seemingly points to improved health, Rockets center Clint Capela has blocked significantly more shots in the past week.

During Houston’s current two-game winning streak over Denver and Minnesota, Capela has blocked five shots in each game — even against a pair of former All-Star centers in Nikola Jokic and Karl-Anthony Towns.

In four games played since Jan. 18, Capela has blocked three shots or more three times. That follows a 10-game stretch in which Capela did not have three or more blocks in any game.

The timeline suggests that Capela’s downturn was related to injury, and most likely a lack of explosion due to an ailing foot. Since his last game absence on Jan. 11, Capela hasn’t been listed on the team’s injury report, and his defensive showings have improved considerably.

Over his first 23 games of the 2019-20 season, the 25-year-old averaged 2.0 blocks per game, and he had eight games with three or more blocks.

Then, in 10 games from Dec. 19 through Jan. 15, Capela’s blocks per game sank to 1.1. That’s the identical period in which the Swiss big man missed three games due to a right heel contusion, and head coach Mike D’Antoni explained in early January that the injury was still nagging.

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But between occasional games off and multiple breaks in the schedule allowing for consecutive off days, the 6-foot-10 Capela appears to have regained his explosion over the past week — with an average of 3.5 blocks per game over his last four appearances.

That’s a much needed development for the Rockets (28-16), since Capela has averaged 2.3 blocks per game in wins and 1.1 in losses.

For the 2019-20 season overall, Capela is averaging 14.4 points (63.3% shooting), 14.0 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks in 33.4 minutes per game as Houston’s starting center. His rebounding total ranks fourth in the NBA.

Capela will look to keep his recent momentum rolling Sunday in another star-studded matchup against Jokic and the Nuggets (31-14). Tip-off from Denver is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Central time.

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