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The Houston Rockets announced Monday that reserve center Nene will miss the remainder of the NBA playoffs with a torn left adductor. Nene suffered the groin injury in the first quarter of Sunday's Game 4 win over the San Antonio Spurs. The Rockets won 125-104 to even the Western Conference semifinal series at two games apiece.
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Game 5 is Tuesday night in San Antonio.
The 34-year-old Nene played just two minutes before suffering the injury. He missed the rest of the game and left the Toyota Center in Houston to undergo an MRI exam.
Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni opted to play forward Ryan Anderson as the team's backup center behind Clint Capela after Nene's departure on Sunday.
"I hate it for Nene," D'Antoni told reporters Monday. "He's been so valuable all year and such a good guy. The good news is I don't think it's as bad as I'm hoping it wouldn't be. I think it's going to turn out that way. Obviously he's done for this series. We're just hoping he gets well quick."
The 6-foot-11, 250-pound Nene entered Sunday's game averaging 10.8 points and 5.3 rebounds in 19.9 minutes per game during the playoffs. The 15-year veteran averaged 9.1 points and 4.2 rebounds in the regular season.
Montrezl Harrell, a second-year player who averaged 9.1 points and 3.8 rebounds during the regular season, is another option to back up at center, even though he has played only 18 minutes during the postseason.
"He's a big part of what we do," teammate James Harden said of Nene. "Guys have to step up. It's an opportunity for guys who don't play big minutes and for guys like Montrezl who haven't really played and might get some opportunities. Whoever it is, we've got to try to fill that role."
