Rockets' Sheppard out at least 4 weeks with fractured thumb

Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard will be sidelined for at least four weeks with an avulsion fracture in his right thumb, coach Ime Udoka announced Saturday.

Sheppard suffered the injury by slapping the ball down in Friday's victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Rockets selected Sheppard with the third overall pick in last year's draft, but he's struggled to adjust to the NBA. He's averaging 3.9 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists on 33.2% shooting from the field and 27.9% from three across 45 games.

The former Kentucky Wildcat has fallen in and out of the Rockets' rotation. He was even sent down to the team's G League affiliate for a few games, where he averaged 30.7 points in three contests.

Sheppard found himself back in the rotation for the Rockets' last three games, even starting Houston's March 3 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He put up 25 points, two rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a block.

Houston is 6-11 in its last 17 contests, though it still sits fifth in the West at 38-25. The Rockets return to action Saturday in a rematch with the Pelicans.