Rockets' Jabari Smith Jr. Suffers Fractured Hand, Out 4-to-8 Weeks with Injury

Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. will miss four-to-eight weeks after suffering a fractured left hand during his team's Friday shootaround.

Houston head coach Ime Udoka revealed the news to assembled media Friday, per Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston.

The 21-year-old Smith is in his third NBA season after the Rockets selected him with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 draft out of Auburn. He's averaged 11.9 points and 6.5 rebounds while starting every game for the 22-11 Rockets, who sit third in the Western Conference.

Udoka added that Smith will undergo surgery (h/t Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle). The surgery date is to-be-determined until Houston confirms the injury's severity following a second opinion.

Amen Thompson will take Smith's spot in the starting lineup in the meantime, per Udoka (h/t Adam Spolane of SportsRadio 610).

The Rockets host the Boston Celtics Friday, but Thompson still needs to sit the second matchup of his two-game suspension levied following his role in a skirmish with the Miami Heat last Sunday. Udoka did not reveal who will start for Smith against the C's.

This is a tough blow for a young and surging Rockets team that's taken a big leap from last year, when Houston went 41-41 and finished 11th in the Western Conference.

Kelly Iko of The Athletic provided more insight.

Hopefully Smith is back on the sooner end of the four-to-eight week timeline as the Rockets look to continue their great season.