Starting center Clint Capela was added to the Houston Rockets’ injury list before Monday’s game at Sacramento with a bruised right heel.
He’s listed as probable to play, which indicates that the team doesn’t view the injury as significant. However, it could be a reminder of the importance of keeping Capela’s minutes in check.
Capela played 40 minutes and 39 minutes in consecutive outings last week, in large part because the Rockets fell behind by 25 points and 17 points, respectively, in the first half of those games against the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers.
The Rockets (20-9) rallied to win both games, but had to lean even more heavily on top players such as Capela due to the reduced margin of error.
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For the 2019-20 season to date, the 6-foot-10 Capela is averaging 14.0 points (65.8% FG), 14.6 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks in 33.5 minutes per game. Thus, last week’s minutes totals were quite a bit above his norm.
That 14.6 rebounding total ranks second in the NBA to Detroit’s Andre Drummond (16.4) on a per-game basis.
Backup options that head coach Mike D’Antoni could potentially turn to in hopes of limiting Capela’s minutes include veteran Tyson Chandler and second-year forward Gary Clark, who hit 3-of-5 three-pointers off the bench Saturday in 19 minutes at Phoenix.
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Center Clint Capela added to the Rockets injury list, but as probable to play against the Kings on Monday with a bruised right heel.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) December 22, 2019