
With the regular season now just days away from coming to a close, the one thing playoff-bound teams want to do is remain healthy and fresh for the postseason.
With the top seed out West locked up, the Houston Rockets have almost nothing to play for but nonetheless picked up an unfortunate injury issue. Forward Luc Mbah a Moute dislocated his right shoulder for the second time this season after finishing a dunk during last night’s victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Mbah a Moute is likely to miss the first round of the playoffs.
After MRI this morning, Houston's Luc Mbah A Moute is likely to miss first-round of playoffs with dislocated right shoulder, league source tells ESPN. For now, there's no clear timetable on return.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 11, 2018
Though not a member of the starting lineup, Luc Mbah A Moute brought many qualities off the bench. His ability to slot in at either forward spot and defend at a high rate made him one of their more versatile pieces. Offensively, his ability to space the floor and knock down triples opened things up for MVP frontrunner James Harden and the arsenal of other shooters Houston possesses.
With the top seed locked up, the Rockets are yet to know who they are slated to play in the first round as the playoff race will come down to the last game. Many have pinned the Rockets as a legitimate threat to Golden State this year and there’s no doubt that’s a possibility.
One thing is for certain though: in order to get out of the West, the Rockets will need all hands on deck. Hopefully, Houston is able to overcome Mbah A Moute’s first-round absence and work him back in the fold as they continue their playoff quest.