Rockets Lose Key Center Adams for Season, Rely on Capela

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Houston Rockets have lost starting center Steven Adams for the rest of the season due to a severe ankle injury that will require surgery. The Rockets signed veteran center Clint Capela in the offseason as insurance, and that move now looks prescient as Capela will take over as the primary backup to Alperen Sengun in the middle.

Why it matters

The Rockets were counting on Adams' size, rebounding, and screen-setting to complement the young Sengun, but his lengthy injury history made the Capela signing an important move. Now Capela, a strong rebounder and shot-blocker, will be relied upon to provide depth and physicality in the frontcourt.

The details

Adams, 32, injured his ankle on January 18th and was ruled out for the season 10 days later. He was a key part of the Rockets' rotation last season, leading the NBA in rebound rate and often playing alongside Sengun in effective double-big lineups. The Rockets were cautious with Adams' minutes and rest due to his prior injury history, but could not avoid this latest setback. Capela, 31, has been an even better rebounder than Adams this season and provides more shot-blocking, though he lacks Adams' size and screen-setting ability.

• On January 18, Adams injured his ankle.
• On January 28, Adams was ruled out for the remainder of the season.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The Rockets may look to add backcourt help before the trade deadline on February 5th, with backup forward Dorian Finney-Smith being a potential trade candidate.