Houston Rockets forward Chandler Parsons and big man Greg Smith were unable to finish practicing with the team on Monday, with Parsons dealing with some sort of knee injury, via Jenny Dial Creech of the Houston Chronicle:
Chandler Parsons and Greg Smith both hurt themselves at practice today. Chandler hurt his knee and didn't finish. Doesn't know how bad.
— Jenny Dial Creech (@jennydialcreech) January 6, 2014
Parsons said that he would not be able to play if the Rockets had a game on Monday night, but hopes to suit up on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Lakers, via Creech. He originally hurt his knee in practice on a collision with teammate Terrence Jones last Thursday, and an MRI on Monday morning came back negative, via Jason Friedman of Rockets.com.
Houston head coach Kevin McHale informed the media about the two of them hurting themselves, but did not offer any additional information. The Rockets are already shorthanded at the moment, with center Omer Asik battling a knee injury and point guard Patrick Beverley out with a broken hand. Guards Jeremy Lin and James Harden have been sidelined with injuries earlier this season, too.
Parsons missed two games with back spasms at the beginning of December but has otherwise been a constant in Houston's starting lineup, leading the team in total minutes. The versatile third-year player is averaging 17.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists while shooting 51.7 percent from the field, all career highs. Smith has only appeared in nine games this year for the Rockets.
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