Rockets' Luc Mbah a Moute dislocates shoulder in meaningless Rockets game

LOS ANGELES -- Houston Rockets forward Luc Mbah a Moute suffered a dislocated right shoulder in the second quarter Tuesday night and didn't return to the Rockets' 105-95 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Mbah a Moute suffered the injury while dunking in the second quarter. He held his shoulder in pain and immediately left the game with 6:46 remaining in the first half.

A nine-year veteran, Mbah a Moute missed 15 games after dislocating his right shoulder in mid-December, but a source said the initial feeling with Tuesday's injury is that it might not be as severe.

Mbah a Moute will undergo an MRI on Wednesday, and Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni said he will await results before assessing Mbah a Moute's status.

"He is a big part of what we are trying to do and what we have been doing," said James Harden, who had 21 points and 10 assists in 30 minutes. "Same injury, same shoulder twice, but he's a soldier. He is going to bounce back stronger than ever."

Added Chris Paul, "We've just got to pick it up by committee. ... Luc has been unbelievably important. Just his spirit, the way he plays, he defends, rebounds, runs, all that stuff.''

D'Antoni was hoping to play his regulars against the Lakers to give his team some rhythm heading into the playoffs. The Rockets entered the game with Ryan Anderson out with a left ankle sprain.

Mbah a Moute entered Tuesday averaging 7.6 points and 25.9 minutes per game this season. He had two points and two rebounds when he departed with the injury.

The Rockets clinched the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference on March 30.