Rockets' Motiejunas out 1-2 weeks with lower-back pain

The Houston Rockets have astonished a lot of people with their ability to remain in the Western Conference's top four despite playing the majority of the season without star center Dwight Howard. 

While James Harden has deservedly received the lion's share of the credit, the emergence of third-year big man Donatas Motiejunas has gone a long way towards shoring up the team's undermanned frontcourt. 

Howard is back now (albeit on a tight minutes restriction), but Motiejunas has hit the shelf. The 7-foot Lithuanian will be sidelined for the next one-to-two weeks due to a sore lower back, the Houston Chronicle's Jenny Dial Creech reports.

"I think he was a little bit sore and he aggravated it in New Orleans," Rockets coach Kevin McHale said, referring to his team's Wednesday night win over the Pelicans. 

Prior to sitting out Friday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Motiejunas was one of just two Rockets (along with Trevor Ariza) to have played in every game this season. He's averaging 12 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists, while shooting 50.4 percent from the field and 36.8 from downtown - all career-highs.

Josh Smith started in his place Friday.