The Houston Rockets will likely be without starting center Clint Capela for a second consecutive game on Sunday in New Orleans.
Capela missed Saturday’s home win against Brooklyn with a right heel contusion, and given the brief turnaround time until Sunday’s game in a new city, it wouldn’t make sense to rush the 25-year-old back so quickly.
Capela was first placed on the injury report prior to Monday’s win in Sacramento, though he played through the heel issue for two games.
The 6-foot-10 big man is averaging 13.9 points (64.2% shooting), 14.4 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks in 33.6 minutes per game this season.
Though Capela still averaged 12.5 rebounds in two games since being listed with the injury, he wasn’t as explosive near the basket and struggled to finish. In those two games, Capela shot 45.5% from the field — down from 65.8% over his first 25 games of the 2019-20 season.
With Capela out Saturday, young center Isaiah Hartenstein stepped up with nine points and 13 rebounds in 24 big minutes off the Houston bench. The Rockets (22-10) could use another similarly strong performance from the athletic seven-footer against Derrick Favors and the Pelicans, who have won four of their last five games.
Tip-off from New Orleans is scheduled for 7 p.m. Central on Sunday. Though Hartenstein appears likely to receive more playing time overall, veteran Tyson Chandler is set to again start in Capela’s place.
