Houston Rockets' Jabari Smith Jr. Sidelined 4-8 Weeks with Hand Fracture

The 21-year-old forward sustained a fractured left hand during shootaround and will require surgery, impacting the surging Rockets' lineup.

Jabari Smith Jr. fractured a metacarpal bone in his left hand during a team shootaround on Friday morning before a game against the Boston Celtics.
Smith is set to undergo surgery, with the timeline for recovery estimated at four to eight weeks, pending a second medical opinion on the injury's severity.
The 21-year-old forward has started every game this season, averaging 11.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1 block per game for the Rockets, who are currently third in the Western Conference standings.
Rockets head coach Ime Udoka announced that Amen Thompson will step into Smith's starting role once he completes his suspension for a fight during a game against the Miami Heat.
Smith, the third overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, has been a key contributor to Houston's strong season, providing rebounding, defensive versatility, and floor spacing.