NBA Injury Report: Trae Young questionable, Jabari Smith Jr. out, and more updates on De’Aaron Fox and Terrence Ross | November 5, 2022
The Atlanta Hawks have listed NBA All-Star Trae Young on their official injury report as questionable. Young was accidentally poked in the eye by Julius Randle in the Hawks’ spectacular comeback win against the New York Knicks.
Young’s eye contusion was partly the reason why he only scored 17 points on 7-22 shooting. However, he added 6 rebounds and 7 assists for a well-rounded game. While hampered by injury and protective wear, his presence still had a huge impact on the game.
Despite his struggles, the New York Knicks wouldn’t allow one of the NBA’s streakiest shooters to get a clean look at the basket.
For the season, “Ice Trae” is averaging 27.5 points per contest, but his shooting percentage isn’t back to its usual efficiency. He is only 38.5% from the field, including 31.7% from long range.
The Atlanta Hawks will be at home for three straight games starting with their matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans. Although he’s listed as questionable, his return after getting his left eye poked could mean he’s good to go.
Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets will miss the services of Jabari Smith Jr., the third overall pick of the 2022 NBA Draft. It will be the first time the rookie will be sidelined this season.
The Rockets have listed him on the injury report due to illness after he didn’t participate in team practices. Smith Jr. also left the game early against the LA Clippers due to a leg injury. Houston might just be taking extra precautions for their highly-touted NBA rookie.
The former Auburn standout has been quietly solid for the Houston Rockets this season. He is averaging 10.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in nine games. The last three games, however, have been brutal for the talented forward. He averaged only 4.6 points on 20% shooting during that span.
The Rockets may give him more time to sit down as he also individually works on his game. Houston doesn’t have a definite time frame for his return.
De’Aaron Fox: Right knee bone bruise, Injured since November 2, 2022
The Sacramento Kings didn’t have one of the NBA’s fastest players against the Miami Heat in their last game. Head coach Mike Brown kept Fox sidelined against the Eastern Conference powerhouse as the point guard reportedly complained of discomfort and a little pain.
He attended practice, however, and could return against the exciting Orlando Magic that’s led by rookie sensation Paolo Banchero.
The Kings will surely miss his presence if he fails to suit up against the Magic. Fox leads the team in scoring with 24.5 points per game on a career-high shooting average of 54.8%, including 38.7% of his threes.
De’Aaron Fox’s speed and ball handling have always been his biggest assets, but when he’s shooting the way he has, he's just a handful to contain.
Terrence Ross: Left knee bone bruise; Injured since November 1, 2022
Terrence Ross barely saw any action for the Orlando Magic against the OKC Thunder as he suffered a bone bruise in his left knee. He played only four minutes and almost didn’t make an impact on the game or the score sheet.
The Magic listed him as questionable in their resounding win against the NBA champs Golden State Warriors but didn’t suit up. His status remains the same, but there is a chance he could play after several days off already.
Ross has provided an able and reliable veteran presence for arguably the NBA’s most exciting team. He is averaging 10.1 points on 46.3% shooting, including 40.5% from long-range. His presence will be a big boost for the team against the Sacramento Kings.