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.
Game 5 is Tuesday night in San Antonio.
Nene played just two minutes before suffering the injury. Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni opted to play forward Ryan Anderson as the team’s backup center behind Clint Capela after Nene’s departure.
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. He averaged 9.1 points and 4.2 rebounds in the regular season.
