The Houston Rockets lost to the Boston Celtics 109-86 on Friday night without forward Jabari Smith Jr. in the lineup for the first time this season, and the NBA team could be without the former Auburn standout for the next one or two months.

Smith missed the game after breaking a bone in his left hand during Friday’s shootaround, and Rockets coach Ime Udoka said the injury would require surgery.

“At some point in practice got hit on the hand – very minimal,” Udoka said. “Pain got worse. Got it looked at and checked. Found it.”

Udoka said the team would get a second opinion on the injury before proceeding with the surgery.

“He’ll get re-evaluated, but could be four to eight weeks,” Udoka said of how long Houston would be without Smith.

The earliest pick from Auburn in the NBA Draft’s history when the Rockets selected him at No. 3 in 2022, Smith has started all 188 games that he’s played for Houston, including every Rockets’ contest this season until Friday night.

Smith had averaged 11.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.0 blocks in 33 games this season. His career averages are 13.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 0.9 blocks in 188 games.

The Rockets had a 22-60 record in Smith’s rookie season and went 41-41 last season. Friday’s loss dropped Houston to 22-12 for the 2024-25 campaign, the third-best record in the Western Conference.

The Rockets play the Los Angeles Lakers at 6 p.m. CST Sunday at the Toyota Center in Houston in their next game.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.