Report: Rockets' Mbah a Moute likely out for 1st round
Houston Rockets wing Luc Richard Mbah a Moute is expected to miss the first round of the postseason after dislocating his right shoulder against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
After completing a one-handed dunk midway through the second quarter of Tuesday's game in L.A., Mbah a Moute immediately began clutching at his right shoulder in apparent discomfort. He was assisted to the locker room by team personnel.
On a team full of floor-spacing dynamos, Mbah a Moute sticks out as one of the best wing defenders. The Rockets allow 105.5 points per 100 possessions when the 31-year-old forward is on the bench, but that drops to 101.2 when he's on the floor.
Mbah a Moute has averaged 7.5 points and three rebounds per game with 36.4 percent 3-point shooting while often keeping the opponents' best frontcourt scoring threats in check for 25.6 minutes a night.
Beyond the first round of the playoffs, which are set to tip off Saturday, there's reportedly no clear recovery timeline for the understated veteran.