The Houston Rockets didn’t get the win in Friday’s Emirates NBA Cup 2025 showdown versus Denver, but they did overcome an early double digit deficit to make the game extremely competitive.
The biggest reason was second-year guard Reed Sheppard. The 21-year-old Kentucky product poured in a career-high 27 points on 9-for-13 shooting (69.2%), including 5-of-8 from 3-point range (62.5%).
“Reed Sheppard went off,” Nuggets had coach David Adelman said postgame. “We know how talented he is.”
In comments to Rockets Wire, Adelman elaborated on how the addition of Sheppard — who, as a rookie, largely didn’t feature in Houston’s rotation last season — had changed this season’s Rockets.
When asked what Sheppard brings to the table, Adelman said:
Just more scoring, and more pick-and-roll ball-handling. A complete threat (on) the scouting report. It just adds another layer. I think all teams would love to have a guy like that who, at any moment, can get hot and flip a game.
You have to guard him. He can get hot and hit five 3s in a quarter. That’s what that kid can do.
He just adds something… last year, it was so defensive minded. They (the Rockets) grinded you out to win games. Adding (Kevin) Durant, who is historically incredible offensively, and then a kid like Sheppard — who can flip a game, offensively — it just adds another element to their team that they didn’t have last year.
To Adelman’s point, this version of the Rockets — with Durant and Sheppard in important roles — currently ranks No. 1 in the NBA in offensive rating. Last season, Houston was No. 12.
The Rockets (10-4) are currently a game behind Denver (12-4) for the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference standings, so it should be a competitive rivalry all season long. Based on Sheppard’s productivity in the first of three scheduled meetings, he appears to be a key variable that could give the Rockets a chance to compete versus a perennial NBA title contender.
“We didn’t come out great and we had to fight from behind to get back,” said Sheppard, who joined Houston as the No. 3 overall draft pick in the NBA’s 2024 first round. “It’s a tough loss. But we’ll get a lot of good things from it.”
Chief among those lessons is the potential of Sheppard, who led Houston in scoring while tallying as many points as Durant and Alperen Sengun, combined. Combine that version of Sheppard with inevitable bounce-back performances from that All-Star duo, and the Rockets should be able to compete against anyone.
Next up for the Rockets is a challenging road game at Phoenix (10-6), which kicks off a four-game West road trip. For Durant, it’s his first return visit to face the team that traded him to the Rockets a few months ago.
Tipoff of Rockets-Suns is at 8:30 p.m. Central on Monday night, and the game will be televised to a national audience on Peacock.
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: ‘Can flip a game’: Nuggets marvel at young Rockets guard Reed Sheppard
Reporting by Ben DuBose, Rockets Wire / Rockets Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
