Jabari Smith Jr. continued to establish himself as a solid frontcourt starter in the opening months of his third NBA season. Smith’s progress will now be halted due to a broken hand.
Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka announced Smith’s hand injury before Friday’s home contest against the Boston Celtics. Udoka said Smith broke his left hand during shootaround Friday morning, and the 2022 lottery pick will now undergo surgery before being reevaluated in 4-to-6 weeks.
"Just at some point in the practice he got hit on the hand," Udoka said pregame Friday.