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Rockets rookie Reed Sheppard to miss at least four weeks with right thumb fracture
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- Rockets rookie Reed Sheppard to miss at least four weeks with right thumb fracture
HOUSTON -- Rookie guard Reed Sheppard will miss at least four weeks with a right thumb avulsion fracture, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka announced prior to Saturday's home game versus New Orleans.
Sheppard played 12 minutes for the Rockets during Thursday's victory at New Orleans, and he first appeared on Houston's injury report (listed as out) the following day.
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In comments prior to Saturday's tipoff, Udoka said that Sheppard would be in a splint for four weeks. The 2024-25 regular season ends five weeks from Sunday, so while that does theoretically leave time for Sheppard to return this season, it remains to be seen if he could physically ramp up in time after spending nearly a month with a splint on his shooting hand.
Udoka said the injury occurred Thursday when Sheppard swiped down at the basketball on a drive by Pelicans star Zion Williamson.
Drafted at No. 3 overall in the 2024 first round, Sheppard has played only sparingly in the 2024-25 season for a deep Houston squad that is highly likely to advance to the NBA's 2025 playoffs. But in a March 3 game with widespread injury absences and an opportunity for more minutes, the 20-year-old Kentucky product flashed his potential with an efficient 25-point, 5-assist night at Oklahoma City.
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With Sheppard sidelined and Fred VanVleet still out with a right ankle strain, that could open up more short-term minutes at point guard for veteran Aaron Holiday. In VanVleet's absence, Amen Thompson again shifted from forward to point guard to start Saturday's game, with Tari Eason taking the vacated spot at forward.
When VanVleet eventually returns, he will start at point guard while Thompson shifts to forward. That will minimize any potential role for Holiday or Sheppard, and Udoka said that VanVleet could potentially return within Houston's next two games.
For now, though, Sheppard's absence could certainly be felt.
More: Rockets rookie Reed Sheppard elite in first NBA start, earns praise from Ime Udoka
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Rockets rookie Reed Sheppard to miss about a month with thumb fracture
