Rockets center Clint Capela will miss his fifth game in barely over a month in Friday night’s home showdown against the rival Dallas Mavericks, according to Houston’s updated injury report.
Yet again, Capela is dealing with the same right heel contusion. The injury was first listed on the team’s injury report back on Dec. 23.
Capela missed Monday’s game in Utah with the injury before returning Wednesday in Portland, but the 6-foot-10 big man played just 17 minutes and was largely ineffective, tallying two points and seven rebounds.
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Head coach Mike D’Antoni addressed the nature of Capela’s nagging heel injury during a Wednesday appearance on SportsTalk 790.
The thing with his injury is that it does hurt, but as he gets warm during a game, it usually goes away.
There’s an inflammation there. It’s mostly off days, and it’s nagging, and warming up is hard. But once he gets going, he should be okay.
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Capela is the guy who to me doesn't seem to be moving well.
Harden, physically, seems fine.
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) January 30, 2020
The Rockets do have the All-Star break coming up in mid-February, which would give Capela approximately a week of rest for his foot. But they have seven games before then, and they’d obviously like for their 25-year-old starting center to be available for as many of those as possible.
In 32.8 minutes per game this season, Capela is averaging 13.9 points (62.9% shooting), 13.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks. His per-game rebounding total ranks fourth in the NBA.
Rockets center Clint Capela will not play tonight vs. Mavs due to the right heel contusion that has been bothering him for weeks.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) January 31, 2020
It’s unclear who the Rockets will start in Capela’s place. When Capela sat out Monday in Utah, the Rockets went small with P.J. Tucker starting at center and Danuel House Jr. taking Tucker’s usual place at power forward.
But with the Mavericks starting 7-foot-3 Kristaps Porziņģis up front, it’s possible the Rockets might opt for more size. If that’s the case, veteran Tyson Chandler or 21-year-old Isaiah Hartenstein could be options.
Curious to see if D'Antoni goes small again with Tucker starting at center tonight, or if they go back to Hartenstein or even Chandler.
The 5-out lineup worked great Monday, but Porzingis is more comfortable in space than Gobert. (And he's even taller.)
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) January 31, 2020
D’Antoni will likely update Capela’s status and his new-look starting lineup when he meets with the media at 4:45 p.m. local time on Friday.
From there, tip-off between is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. from Toyota Center. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN.
Both the Rockets and Mavs enter Friday’s game with identical 29-18 records, tied for No. 5 in the Western Conference playoff race. Dallas will be without superstar guard Luka Doncic, who is out with an ankle injury.
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