Storyline: Clint Capela Injury
72 rumors in this storyline
More Rumors in this Storyline
Jonathan Feigen: Rockets center Clint Capela expected to return to practice today, play tomorrow in San Antonio, source said. Danuel House Jr. still out.
Jonathan Feigen: Clint Capela and Danuel House Jr. both upgraded to probable for the Rockets against the Trail Blazers on Monday. Capela (concussion) missed the past two games and House (bruised back) the past three games.
Mark Berman: Mike D’Antoni says Clint Capela out tonight and tomorrow night. Danuel House out tonight, 50-50 tomorrow. Says Russell Westbrook will probably be out tomorrow for load management. Says Ben McLemore in the starting lineup tonight. pic.twitter.com/eez9WdBdBG
Tim MacMahon: A sore right shoulder has been a factor in Clint Capela’s slow start. He hurt it playing for Swiss national team and has been working to strengthen it. “Getting there slowly,” he said, adding that it’s really bothered him trying to dunk with one hand and reaching for rebounds.
Alykhan Bijani: Coach D’Antoni on Clint Capela leaving Tuesday’s game with a sore right thumb: “He’s fine. He’s fine. Last year he tore ligaments in his thumb. He got hit. Got a little scared, but he woke up just fine.” He will play against the Raptors on Thursday. #Rockets
Eric Walden: Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni says center Clint Capela feels “a lot better.” Does not have a minutes restriction.
Salman Ali: Mike D’Antoni says Clint Capela has “more or less” recovered from his upper respiratory infection. pic.twitter.com/ZTx7xYztuY
Salman Ali: Clint Capela missed today’s Rockets practice today with an upper respiratory infection. Per Mike D’Antoni he will play in Game 1: “He better not be as soft as I was.”
Tim MacMahon: Clint Capela spent the All-Star break in Houston working out and playing 1-on-1 against Rockets reserve center Isaiah Hartenstein. His surgically repaired right thumb passed all tests. “It felt great,” Capela said. “I was really happy about it, so now I’m ready to go.”
Jonathan Feigen: Capela wearing a wrap on his right thumb, but said he played all weekend, has no issues. He didn’t know if he’ll wear it the game, but said can catch any passes with it.
Tim MacMahon: Rockets center Clint Capela is returning to practice today after missing 15 games due to ligament damage in his right thumb. Barring a setback, he’s expected to play Thursday against the Lakers.
Clint Capela to return after All-Star break?
To the Rockets, Wednesday’s game was not just the last before the All-Star break. Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni referred to the game against the Timberwolves as “the last one until Clint comes back probably.” Rockets center Clint Capela has been out since he injured ligaments in his right thumb Jan. 13 in Orlando, requiring surgery the following week. The game against the Timberwolves was the 15th he had missed, but he was cleared to resume workouts several weeks ago. The Rockets expect him to practice with the team for the first time since the injury next week in Los Angeles.
“He’s doing everything without contact,” D’Antoni said. “I guess those two practices will determine whether he will play the first game (after the break) or not.” Capela is the Rockets’ leading scorer, averaging 17.6 points per game, and leading rebounder, averaging 12.6.
Mark Berman: Clint Capela (@Clint Capela) w/ update on his thumb:”I felt that my hand has been responding really well.I’ve said before my target is after the All-Star Break” (Has he circled a date?) “I haven’t yet..If it keeps going really well, hopefully the 1st game after the All-Star Break”
The Rockets announced on the day of the surgery to repair ligament damage that Capela would be out for four to six weeks. Capela said he is hoping to return for the Rockets’ first game after the All-Star break, Feb. 21 against the Lakers in Los Angeles, which would put him in the middle of that timetable. “This is my hope, this is my goal,” Capela said.
Tim MacMahon: Rockets center Clint Capela made this trip with the team. No splint or cast on his surgically repaired right thumb. He likely returns right after the All-Star break.
Jonathan Feigen: Rockets announce that center Clint Capela underwent surgery on his right thumb. He is expected to miss the next four to six weeks.
Mark Berman: While Clint Capela may seek a second opinion, according to NBA sources Clint has been told the right thumb injury he suffered Sunday in Orlando requires surgery. League sources confirmed he will miss 4-6 weeks after suffering ligament damage in his right thumb. #Rockets
With two starters already out with injuries, Houston Rockets center Clint Capela is expected to miss four to six weeks with ligament damage to his right thumb, league sources told ESPN. Capela underwent an MRI in Houston on Monday and may get a second opinion with a hand specialist in the near future, league sources said.
Adrian Wojnarowski: MRI showed ligament damage today on Capela, league sources said.
Mark Berman: Clint Capela (thumb) out tonight pic.twitter.com/mas5CM8xWX
Michael C. Wright: Clint Capela had an x-ray onn that tight hand, and D’antoni said it’s just a bruise. Said he was worried. Said Eric Gordon’s knee is fine too.
Kelly Iko: Capela (right hand injury) will not return.
Jonathan Feigen: Capela hand soreness called “just a bruise.”
Alykhan Bijani: P.J. Tucker (sore back) and Clint Capela (right foot soreness) will be available to play tomorrow when the #Rockets travel to San Antonio to take on the #Spurs.
Jonathan Feigen: Clint Capela expects to practice on Saturday and Hope’s to play Sunday in San Antonio.
Adam Wexler: #Rockets Capela (Thumb), Harden (Rest) & Mbah a Moute ( Knee) are OUT: Paul (Hamstring) is probable vs. Bulls
Jonathan Feigen: Ryan Anderson (sore right hip flexor) and Brandan Wright (sore right knee) are out for Rockets vs. Clippers tomorrow. Clint Capela (illness) is questionable. Eric Gordon, who missed past three games with an illness, is not on the injury report, so it seems he will be back.
Jonathan Feigen: D’Antoni said Clint Capela will return on Sunday.
Rockets center Clint Capela has a right orbital fracture and will miss Houston’s next two games, the team announced Wednesday. Capela will be re-evaluated later this week, according to the Rockets.
Tim MacMahon: Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni says Clint Capela, who missed three of the last four games with a bruised left heel, will start against the Rockets. He confirmed that Chris Paul would not play.
Mark Berman: Mike D’Antoni on Clint Capela: “I’m hopeful he’ll play (against OKC). If not, the next game.” On Chris Paul: “Chris is not to far away.” Said Luc Mbah a Moute is “a little bit longer” away. #Rockets
Jonathan Feigen: Nene to start again for the Rockets with Clint Capela out, D’Antoni said.
Jonathan Feigen: Rockets center Clint Capela doubtful for tomorrow with a bruised heel.
Jonathan Feigen: D’Antoni said there is not concern that Capela’s injury could linger long-term because it is a bruise, but it could keep him out “one more day, three days, four days. As soon as the pain goes away, he’ll play.”
Jonathan Feigen: Rockets Center Clint Capela out tonight vs Lakers with a bruised left heel.
Mark Berman: Clint Capela ruled out tonight
Mike D’Antoni said Pat Beverley (stinger), Clint Capela (Achilles), Lou Williams (rest) and Nene (rest) will not play tonight against the Clippers.
Jonathan Feigen: I’ll tweet link when it’s posted, but more from Capela: “I’ve been doing pretty good in the workouts, sprinting, dunking. It all felt good.”
Calvin Watkins: Center Clint Capela is still scheduled to be evaluated next week in his recovery from a fractured left fibula. If cleared by doctors next week, Capela can begin practicing with the Rockets.
Jonathan Feigen: Capela: “My workout is getting better, really better. I’m on the court right now. Did pretty great. I’m going to have to keep going.”
Calvin Watkins: Rockets center Nene said he spoke with Clint Capela regarding his fracture fibula and said he’s in good spirits. Nene also talked about battling back from his own health scares with cancer and a knee injury.
Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that center Clint Capela underwent medical imaging at Memorial Hermann. Tests revealed Capela has a small left fibula fracture. He will be re-evaluated by Dr. Steven Flores in approximately four weeks.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Sources: With loss of Capela, Rockets probing trade market on available bigs. Most likely scenario: Turning minutes to Nene and Harrell.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Sources: Rockets still waiting for final medical intel on Capela leg injury, but bracing to be without him for 4-to-6 weeks.
Clint Capela out six weeks?
Coach Mike D’Antoni said on Monday that Capela will miss Tuesday’s game against the Spurs and was getting an MRI. The Rockets have not released any information about the results. But L’Equipe, the respected French sports publication, reported the MRI showed Capela suffered a broken fibula and will likely miss several weeks. Capela is getting another scan to confirm the injury but likely has a broken fibula, a bone between the knee and ankle, a person with knowledge of his medical visit told the Chronicle.
Calvin Watkins: Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said center Clint Capela will have a MRI on his knee today and won’t play against the Spurs on Tuesday.
December 12, 2019 | 9:50 am UTC Update
Love has been mentioned frequently, but is a question mark. There was a report that Portland is his favored destination, but I have not been able to substantiate that and, in fact, have been told by people close to him that the report is not necessarily true. And the other concern with Love – who is obviously a terrific player with championship pedigree – are his injuries. Over his last three seasons, he has played 60, 59, and 22 games. At an average salary of $30.1 million over the next three seasons, his availability is a concern.
As Woj noted, the Wolves made a heavy play for D’Angelo Russell in the offseason before he wound up in Golden State in a sign-and-trade. While Woj didn’t draw a straight line between the Wolves’ ongoing point guard pursuit and Russell, it remains a logical fit given Golden State’s struggles and that Russell is one of those players suddenly able to be dealt Sunday. “I think Minnesota out there, they wanted a point guard this summer, they went after D’Angelo Russell in free agency, he goes to Golden State in the sign-and-trade,” Woj said. “I think they’re in the market for a point guard or something that sets them up to get one in July.”
CJ talked about what Melo has brought to the team and how him passing up the Blazers in the past was “a blessing in disguise” for him. I told him ‘you going to [Oklahoma City and Houston] was a blessing in disguise for you.’ Because your understanding and appreciation for the game changed. He had time to be with his family, he got invaluable time with his son….He had a full year to workout and spend time with his kid and kind of like reflect on life, and I think his appreciation of the game shifted, it changed, the way he plays now you can see he’s excited about the game.
“His presence has been huge in the locker room, having another voice, another guy to speak up that people respect. When we on the floor, other teams respect him being out there. The balance that he’s giving us on the floor and off the floor has been great. It’s been a joy to have him on our team.” Lillard also noted that the Blazers are now a part of Anthony’s career story as the team to give him his comeback opportunity.
“I have a logo in there,” Leonard said when asked at the end of his news conference about the special message engraved inside his ring. “And [the ring is sized for] my middle finger, so it reminds me ‘put it on my middle finger.’ So I have like a ‘FU’ symbol in there.”
Leonard said it very matter-of-fact as reporters got a good chuckle. A Raptors source confirmed to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps that there is a logo engraved inside the ring, but wouldn’t specify what it was.
The Los Angeles Lakers were perplexed as to why Jared Dudley’s role in a fourth-quarter shoving match in the team’s 96-87 win over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night warranted an ejection. However, they were impressed he stuck up for teammate Dwight Howard nonetheless. “I mean, that’s all it takes to get ejected? These days? Little shove?” LeBron James said after the game. “I’ve seen a lot more than that. But ‘Duds’ will do whatever. He told you guys at media day his job is to come in here if somebody goes crazy, do something crazy to me or AD [Anthony Davis] or whoever on the team, he’s going to be the muscle.”
After an official’s review, Howard and Magic guard Michael Carter-Williams were called for technical fouls, while Dudley and Magic forward Wes Iwundu — who pushed Howard — were ejected. “I thought that was kind of bogus that we both got techs for showing some emotion,” Howard said. “This is the game we love, we should be allowed to show some emotions. [It’s] not like we’re out here trying to fight or do anything crazy.”
Jim Eichenhofer: JJ Redick on #Pelicans as a group: “Energy, talk and effort are contagious, in the same way the negatives of those things are – apathy, being lethargic. There is an energy you have to bring to a group, and the group feeds on either one, whether it’s negative or positive.”
In a great interview for Spartando, the most successful European coach of all-time, Zeljko Obradovic talked about several things from his career and basketball in general but also mentioned the reason why he never joined an NBA team as a head coach. Obradovic made a pretty provocative statement saying the NBA behaves like “mafia” because it doesn’t allow European coaches to be the head coach of an NBA team. Obradovic is convinced many European coaches have enough quality and the know-how for that job.
Wayland Baptist guard J.J. Culver had a performance for the ages Tuesday night, becoming just the second player in NAIA history to score at least 100 points in a game. Culver, a 6-foot-5 senior from Lubbock, Texas, and the older brother of Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Jarrett Culver, reached the magical mark to lead his Pioneers to a 124-60 rout over Southwestern Adventist in Plainview, Texas. He was 34-for-62 from the field, including 12-for-33 from 3-point range, and 20-for-27 from the free throw line. The rest of Culver’s teammates combined to go 8-for-15 from the field and 5-for-6 from the line, while the next-highest scorer on the team was Jonathan Robinson, who finished with eight points.
Larry Tanenbaum told Postmedia he is not worried that another NBA team is once again trying to poach Masai Ujiri from the Toronto Raptors, adding that there’s no reason to believe the successful executive won’t remain in the city once his contract expires following the 2020-21 season. “We hope so,” Tanenbaum, who is MLSE part-owner and long-time chairman, said earlier this week at the Board of Governors’ meeting in Pebble Beach, Calif. “We haven’t talked (about an extension) at this point in time, but if you ask him, his intentions are pretty clear.”
Ask anyone who knows Stephen A. if he’s like that in real life—and they get that question endlessly—and they’ll tell you it’s not an act. That’s really him. He is not coached to have opinions he doesn’t believe in. He is not gesticulating like a Vegas magician on camera just because he’s a creature of television. Camera or no camera, he is on. A natural ham. “My mother,” says Stephen A., “said I came out of the womb talking.”
To stay sharp, he remains disciplined in both mental and physical fitness. He works out constantly, including sit-ups and push-ups and “a little boxing” (MMA is next on his radar). He limits himself to two drinks a week and never more than that. It’s not hard to verify his moderation with his co-workers; many of them are unaware that he drinks at all.
Co-workers praise Stephen A. as compassionate and caring (when coordinating producer Antoine Lewis experienced sudden heart failure last year, one of the first people he saw when he opened his eyes in the hospital was Stephen A.). But it will not shock you to learn that Stephen A. Smith is not an easygoing fella. His armor stays on at all times, particularly when he’s got a reporter like myself throwing a hodgepodge of intrusive questions at him. He knows how this works, so he is very forthright about what he will and will not be forthright about. And he is far too shrewd to be caught off guard. He is wickedly evasive.
You might think traffic is of little concern to Stephen A., that maybe he has a personal driver. You would be wrong. Stephen A. Smith drives. Always. Twenty-seven years ago, Stephen A.’s older brother died in a car accident. Basil Smith was 33 years old at the time. “He was a traveling salesman and fifteen people were in the passenger van with him. He was the only one that died, because he was asleep.” He continues: “Everyone else was awake. They were able to brace themselves. He got thrown from the van and he was killed. And so I prefer to drive myself. Period.”
One of those people who didn’t see the truck coming was one of his own co-workers. Back in May, ESPN writer Baxter Holmes (who respectfully passed on commenting for this story) published a deep dive on Magic Johnson’s time as then president of basketball operations for the Los Angeles Lakers. He found that Johnson was a ruthless dilettante who went out of his way to constantly remind subordinates that they were expendable. That story dropped the same day Magic was due to appear with Stephen A. on a SportsCenter NBA Finals special. Stephen A. was not at all happy about the timing of Holmes’s story, and said so publicly. He wanted a heads-up that the story was firing, and when that heads-up never came, he “was ticked off,” says Stephen A. “I’m not going to sit around and feel disrespected.” In fact, Stephen A. tells me that Magic was, by all accounts, right to be a cruel overlord, and that anyone complaining about it is too soft to handle living in an unfair world.
During the Magic affair, Stephen A. was letting his Crunch Berries hang out for all to see. Henry Abbott witnessed it. Abbott, whose TrueHoop blog was purchased by ESPN in 2007, and then more recently relaunched as an independent newsletter, told me, “I feel like Stephen has moved to this other place where he’s like, I’m friends with Magic Johnson. It’s personally inconvenient for me for Baxter’s story to come out. So let’s just pretend it doesn’t exist. I’m like, Where’s the guy who was working the back hallways trying to reach Aaron McKie in 2000? That guy worked his ass off.” He adds, “The enemy of truth is power, right? He has a lot of power.” Abbott has felt the sting of that power himself. “He was always mad at me, like when I wrote shit about Kobe.” When I ask Abbott if he felt like Stephen A. was bullying him by openly expressing displeasure with his work, he replies, “I felt he did, yeah.”
That whole statement got Stephen A. suspended by Skipper for a week, a suspension Stephen A. still feels was unjust. “Let me be very, very clear,” he says to me—a warning sign that he might not necessarily be clear. “I apologized because of how things were interpreted. I have never felt that I deserved to be suspended; that was the wrong damn decision. My words were very, very simple, and people tried to interpret it being different than what it is, because that’s the world we’re living in. I have never hit a woman in my life. I never would.”
As with many other powerful men, Stephen A. can point to his own career successes to validate his own worldview. He is baffled that others lack his work ethic and believes they shouldn’t be surprised when they find themselves in a rut because they failed to work eighteen hours a day. If he takes a day off, he tells me, “it’s almost like a catastrophe.” He has said many times that he feels as if he’s never arrived. I ask him why he feels that way. “If I’m asleep, somebody else is awake. If I’m off, somebody else is working,” he says. “And if those things are happening, they think they can take me, which means that at some point in time they’re going to confront me to test and see if I’m ready. And at that point I will annihilate them to show them that they were never ready at all.”
Vincent Ellis: Definitely not exceptional, but yes, I’m leaving the Free Press. #PistonsTwitter will never be the same. 🙂
Glen “Big Baby” Davis just pled no contest to felony battery stemming from an April 2018 incident at a West Hollywood nightclub — but he ain’t going to jail, TMZ Sports has learned. We broke the story … the former Boston Celtics player was accused of beating the hell out of a man outside Factory nightclub — causing major injuries.
December 12, 2019 | 3:04 am UTC Update
Having already made amends with one former fan base, as Dwight Howard and the Los Angeles Lakers faithful are embracing each other again, Howard looked to patch up another old relationship Tuesday in Orlando. “I think it takes everybody a while to get over things, but time should heal wounds, and if not, got to let that s— go,” Howard said before the Lakers played the Magic.
Dwight Howard: “That’s how — I’m sorry — That’s how I look at it. I’ve let a lot of things go in my heart, things that have kind of held me down. Things that I had towards the Magic and just how the situation ended. How I was treated by the fans and stuff like that. But I had to let that bitterness go. There’s no need to hold onto it. When I let it go, it just made my life a lot better. Just more free.”
“I got blessed to come back and play with the Lakers, and I’m in a really good situation,” Howard said. “I’m pretty sure there were a lot of people here who were super hurt and disappointed that I left. And I’m sorry for that. You know, I apologize if they felt that way. But I never would have been the person I am today if I would have stayed here. So I’m very thankful that everything that has transpired has transpired and it’s made me the best version of Dwight Howard.”
Jovan Buha: Doc says Derrick Walton Jr. hurt his hamstring and was unable to re-enter the game.
December 12, 2019 | 2:47 am UTC Update
Jovan Buha: Clippers defeat the Raptors 112-92 in Kawhi Leonard’s return to improve to 19-7 and 6-6 on the road. Clips are now 3-1 on their six-game road trip. One of their most impressive Ws. Kawhi: 23 pts, 5 reb, 6 ast Lou: 18 pts, 6 reb, 8 ast PG: 13 pts Up next: at Minnesota on Friday.
Kyle Goon: FINAL: Lakers 96, Magic 87. LeBron with 25p, 11r and 10a. Anthony Davis with 16 and KCP with 15. But this is the kind of win that highlights flaws rather than gloss over them. A gut-check start to one of the longest road trips of the season.
Scott Agness: There it is… the best win of the season for the Pacers, 122-117 over the Celtics. Kemba scored a SH 44pts. On his 27th birthday, Brogdon led the Pacers with 29pts, 8asts; 15/15 at the foul line. Holiday brothers were huge & finished the game. Up next: at Atlanta on Friday.
Adam Himmelsbach: Just saw Smart walking out of the locker room. “I’m getting better.” Asked him about tomorrow. “Don’t know yet.”
Chris Iseman: Knicks say Dennis Smith Jr is out tonight because of illness
December 12, 2019 | 2:28 am UTC Update
David Hardisty: FINAL: Rockets 116, Cavs 110. Facing an epic collapse against a bottom-feeder after giving up a 24-0 run late, Harden (55p-8a, 10-18 threes) straps the team to his back and carries Houston to the win.
Justin Kubatko: The @Houston Rockets James Harden has recorded the 22nd 50-point game of his career. The only players in NBA history with more such games are Wilt Chamberlain (118), Michael Jordan (31), and Kobe Bryant (25).
Kerith Burke: Steve Kerr said, “Most people want the Knicks to be good. I know I do.” He continued, New York is a marquee franchise and he wants to see things turn around for the fans and for the benefit of the league.
Kyle Goon: Jared Dudley got ejected, as did Wes Iwundu. Dwight Howard and Michael Carter-Williams got techs.
Chris Forsberg: Celtics say Gordon Hayward — blow to nose — will not return. Between “direct shot to abdomen” and “blow to nose,” Celtics have had some really unique injury reports.
Andrew Greif: Patrick Beverley will miss the rest of the game after suffering a concussion, per the Clippers.
December 12, 2019 | 1:57 am UTC Update
Kane Pitman: Bud says Giannis has “a little bit of soreness or significant soreness” in that quad. Just based on Bud’s words, it would seem that the weekend back-to-back would be in question also.
The Los Angeles Lakers have signed forward Devontae Cacok to a two-way contract, it was announced today. In a related move, the team has waived guard Zach Norvell Jr.
Roy Parry: Lakers C Dwight Howard checks in and is greeted by a chorus of boos from the Amway Center crowd with 5.5 seconds left. One fan yelled, “You broke our hearts, Dwight.”
James Ham: Spoke to De’Aaron Fox in the locker room. He’s feeling really good and thinks he’s about a week and a half away from a return. Starting 3v3. Still needs a big brace on his ankle.
Dave Mason: Luke Walton says Marvin Bagley will play tonight.
Logan Murdock: Eric Paschall (hip) will play tonight
Scott Agness: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver just arrived here @TheFieldhouse for Pacers-Celtics.
December 11, 2019 | 11:58 pm UTC Update
Steve Mills on the hot seat?
Several members of the organization said this week that they fully expect Steve Mills will be replaced as team president at the end of the season — if not sooner — unless the club somehow turns things around.
