David Nwaba reaggravates wrist injury, out indefinitely for Rockets

“It’s kind of looking like how it was right before the All-Star break,” Stephen Silas said. “Surgery might be the next-best option for him.”

Defensive ace David Nwaba is likely to miss an extended period of time for the Houston Rockets after reaggravating his strained right wrist, according to comments made Tuesday by head coach Stephen Silas.

Before the All-Star break, the expectation was Nwaba would need surgery and miss approximately six weeks. However, the 6-foot-5 guard, who missed most of the 2019-20 season after tearing his Achilles, opted to explore non-surgical alternatives and returned in limited bench duty over the weekend, citing a desire to help his short-handed team.

Now, however, it appears surgery is inevitable. Here’s what Silas said before Tuesday’s home game versus Atlanta:

Nwaba is probably going to be out for quite a bit. He reaggravated it two games ago, and he came into my office and was like, ‘Yeah, it’s not looking good.’

So I guess he’s going to see the doctor, and have another opinion, but it’s kind of looking like how it was right before the All-Star break. Surgery might be the next-best option for him.

Now 28 years old, Nwaba has averaged 9.2 points (48.8% FG) and 3.9 rebounds in 22.6 minutes per game this season. He’s also one of Houston’s most valuable and versatile defensive players. Nwaba will be a free agent this offseason, but Houston will have Early Bird contractual rights to help retain him, should it desire to do that.

Nwaba’s attempt at returning earlier than expected was due in large part to the ravaged state of Houston’s roster. Among expected rotation players, the Rockets are also without Christian Wood (right ankle sprain), Danuel House Jr. (right knee contusion), John Wall (left knee contusion), Eric Gordon (right groin strain) and PJ Tucker (not with team, awaiting a trade). The Rockets entered Tuesday at 0-16 since Wood’s Feb. 4 injury, which is their longest losing streak as a franchise since moving to Houston in 1971. They were 7-1 in the eight previous games.

Wood and House could return as soon as Wednesday’s game versus Golden State, per Silas, while the Rockets are potentially targeting Friday against Detroit for Wall. All are part of an ongoing seven-game homestand, which is the longest of the 2020-21 season for Houston.

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