The Houston Rockets look ready for next week’s season opener. They finished the preseason with a 4-0 record thanks to Thursday night’s 133-115 over the Atlanta Hawks. And while the majority of Houston’s starters sat, one potential starter still got the opportunity to show his stuff, and he sure responded.
Reed Sheppard finished the night with 29 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals and 3 blocks while shooting 12-for-22 from the field and 5-for-13 from deep, as the Rockets JV squad went basket-for-basket with the Atlanta starters, then fully broke the game open in the second half against the reserves for the 133-115 victory.
Sheppard was everywhere, and the Rockets also got 28 points from Josh Okogie, who shot 8-for-15 from the field, 2-for-5 from deep and 10-for-12 from the free throw line. Okogie also had 3 boards, 3 assists, 2 steals and 3 blocks. The Rockets also got 20 points, 9 boards, 3 assists and 2 steals from Isaiah Crawford, 16 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists from Aaron Holiday, 16 points and 8 rebounds from Jeff Green, 14 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals from JD Davison, and 10 points and 7 board from Kevon Harris.
There wasn’t a ton to be learned from this game, other than Reed Sheppard appears ready. But it also looks like Houston has some surprising depth this season, even with the injury troubles to Fred VanVleet and Dorian Finney-Smith, plus losing Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks in the Kevin Durant deal. Houston’s two-way players all looked pretty decent as well.
The Hawks were led by Zaccharie Risacher with 24 points and Kristaps Porzingis with 23, as they finished the preseason with a 2-2 record.
The Rockets now look towards opening night, when they battle the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, October 21. That’s a 6:30pm CST game that’s airing on NBC Peacock. Go Rockets!!