Two weeks ago, star big man Christian Wood sprained his right ankle for the second time in the 2020-21 season. Since then, the Houston Rockets — who had won seven of their last eight games, at the time — are 0-7.
While the Rockets said the injury wasn’t as severe as initially feared, head coach Stephen Silas said recently that the 6-foot-10 center was “still limping” and dealing with some swelling in the ankle. However, Silas did confirm that Wood is off crutches and doing light movement exercises.
As of Thursday, Houston had yet to offer any official timetable on Wood, other than to say that he’ll be evaluated each week. However, the rising star offered his own timetable later that night, on Instagram:
Christian Wood says he will return before the All-Star break. The last game for the Rockets before the break is when James Harden and the Nets come to town on March 3. pic.twitter.com/SXsmzevKze
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) February 19, 2021
If Wood’s prediction of “before the All-Star break” is true, that means he would return — at the latest — by the game on Wednesday, March 3, versus former teammate James Harden and the Brooklyn Nets. That’s less than two weeks from when Wood posted the message on Thursday night, which would seem to signal that he believes he’s making progress.
Now 25 years old, Wood is averaging 22.0 points and 10.2 rebounds in 31.2 minutes per game in the 2020-21 season. In a breakout year that has earned the 6-foot-10 big man consideration for both the All-Star Game and Olympics, he’s shooting 55.8% overall and 42.1% on 3-pointers.
For the reeling Rockets (11-17), Wood’s return is essential to their hopes of making a playoff push later this season.
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