With defenders focused on the Rockets’ big three of Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, and Amen Thompson, young forward Jabari Smith Jr. took advantage in Houston’s 130-128 road victory (box score) over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night.
Tuesday’s game was played in Birmingham, Alabama, home of the Pelicans’ NBA G League affiliate (the Birmingham Squadron).
The Rockets are now 3-0 in preseason play, with one final exhibition looming Thursday night in Atlanta. The Pelicans are 2-1 in the preseason.
Entering his fourth season as a professional, Smith was the big story with 26 points and 5 rebounds while making 7-of-16 shots (43.8%) and 4-of-10 from 3-point range. The Rockets were a remarkable +23 in his 22 minutes.
Other statistics of note included:
In contrast to earlier preseason games, head coach Ime Udoka went with a “double big” lineup featuring Sengun and Adams, and it flourished — as evidenced by Adams’ outstanding plus-minus total.
With the regular-season opener coming next Tuesday in Oklahoma City versus a Thunder squad that often starts Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, that could make a potential Sengun-Adams pairing even more enticing.
Factoring in previous exhibitions, regular-season games, and playoff games, Tuesday’s Pelicans-Rockets game was only the second time that Sengun and Adams had started together. The first was an April 4 victory over the Thunder near the end of last season.
As for the ongoing preseason, Tuesday’s complete highlights and postgame interviews are available below.
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: With 26 efficient points, Jabari Smith Jr. flourishes as Rockets stay perfect in preseason
Reporting by Ben DuBose, Rockets Wire / Rockets Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
