In their first appearances at Toyota Center, newly drafted rookie forwards Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason were outstanding in Sunday night’s preseason opener as the Houston Rockets crushed the visiting San Antonio Spurs, 134-96 (box score).
Smith, drafted at No. 3 in the 2022 first round out of Auburn, started and scored 21 points in 24 minutes on 8-of-15 shooting (53.8%), including 5-of-8 (62.5%) from 3-point range. The 6-foot-11 forward also grabbed 8 rebounds in that time. Meanwhile, Eason — drafted at No. 17 out of LSU — added 21 points and 10 rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench, shooting 9-of-13 (69.2%).
But, as indicated by the 38-point margin, Smith and Eason had plenty of help in the exhibition opener for both teams.
Other Sunday standouts for the Rockets included:
- Alperen Sengun: 13 points, 5-of-6 shooting (83.3%), 5 rebounds, 3 assists in 20 minutes
- Eric Gordon: 13 points, 3-of-5 on 3-pointers (60.0%), 2 assists in 16 minutes
- Josh Christopher: 15 points, 6-of-9 shooting (66.7%), 3-of-4 on 3-pointers (75.0%), 4 rebounds, 4 assists in 21 minutes
Houston’s starting backcourt of Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. struggled to shoot against the Spurs, making just 6-of-21 shots (28.6%), combined. However, the Rockets were a team-high plus-24 and plus-23, respectively, in the minutes Green and Porter played.
San Antonio was led by veteran big man Jakob Poeltl, who had 9 points (57.1% FG), 10 rebounds, 2 blocks and 2 steals in 17 minutes. Devin Vassell scored a team-high 13 points but shot just 4-of-13 from the field (30.8%) and 1-of-7 on 3-pointers (14.3%).
Scroll on for postgame interviews and analysis. The Rockets (1-0) will resume their preseason schedule on Friday at home versus Toronto, while the Spurs (0-1) host Orlando on Thursday.
Highlights
Interviews and Analysis
Rockets 134, Spurs 96. Rookies Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason with 21 apiece. Eason with 10 rebounds.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) October 3, 2022
Jabari Smith Jr. tonight:
21 points
8 rebounds
2 assists8/15 FG
5/8 3FG+19 in 24 minutes
Seems good.
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) October 3, 2022
Tari Eason tonight:
21 points
10 rebounds
2 assists
2 steals9/13 FG
1/2 3FG+14 in 20 minutes played
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) October 3, 2022
Derrick Favors on the Rockets bench tonight. Was not expected here tonight but he's joined the festivities.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) October 3, 2022
The gap between the Rockets and Spurs in this game, even for a preseason game, is probably a good indication of where San Antonio intends to go this season.
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) October 3, 2022
Hate to say it but swapping Christian Wood being a traffic cone on defense for Jabari Smith being a ball hawk is such a significant difference
— Roosh (@RooshWilliams) October 3, 2022
Look
I don't want to overreact, because it's preseason and this Spurs team could easily be one of if not THE worst team in the NBA this season
BUT
This #Rockets team looks a lot different from last year.
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) October 3, 2022
Jabari Smith looks much more comfortable on the floor than he did early in Vegas — finding his spots within the flow of the offense and remaining aggressive. Leads all scorers with 15 points.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) October 3, 2022
If you're not excited about Jabari Smith Jr, check your pulse. #Rockets
— Vanessa Richardson (@SportsVanessa) October 3, 2022
Opinions on Jabari Smith Jr. are about to change real fast.
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) October 3, 2022
You couldn't really tell on Media Day, but on the floor Jalen Green looks a lot bigger
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) October 3, 2022
The plays Sengun is making 1 on 1 versus Poeltl, who is legitimately a very good NBA defender, are quite eye opening
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) October 3, 2022
Rockets giving Green minutes on the floor without Gordon + Porter and he’s responded with some good decision-making. His 3rd assist to Sengun stretches Houston’s lead to 20 with 2:47 to go in the half.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) October 3, 2022
Daishen Nix from behind halfcourt. Sure, why not? #Rockets obliterating the Spurs at halftime, 62-37 pic.twitter.com/9bD1t0E8iO
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) October 3, 2022
Tari finds KJ cutting to the rim and…Well you know the rest…#LightTheFuse #Sarge @TheRocketsWire pic.twitter.com/hYREyp1ZbL
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) October 3, 2022
Rockets win 134-96 in an absolute routing of the Spurs.
It was pretty much as perfect a night as you could have asked for with the rookies balling, defensive standouts, passing and 3s. Maybe outside of Green's scoring.
The next game will be against the Raptors Sunday.
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) October 3, 2022
The San Antonio Spurs are very possibly gonna be the worst team in the NBA but I gotta give Stephen Silas credit. This team looks very prepared to play. And wow, whatever Lionel Hollins is doing with this defense is extremely exciting. Couldn't have asked for a better first half.
— Roosh (@RooshWilliams) October 3, 2022
One thing I am seeing already from this young Rockets team is the athleticism on defense which is one thing HC Stephen Silas has been preaching during training camp…#LightTheFuse #Sarge #RocketsWire
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) October 2, 2022
Coach Silas mentioned that there shouldn’t be anything taken from the rotation tonight as they are still figuring out different lineups
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) October 3, 2022
Here is Coach Silas speaking about what Bruno brings to the team pic.twitter.com/Jd66zXEW2a
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) October 3, 2022
Coach Silas also mentioned how impressive Eason was even with them not calling any plays for him
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) October 3, 2022
Jabari Smith Jr’s preseason debut with the @HoustonRockets:
24 Minutes
21 Points
8/15 Shooting
5/8 Threes
8 Rebounds— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) October 3, 2022
Asked Jabari Smith if he liked the "Locksmith" nickname and before he could reply Tari Eason chimed in with "Jabari Safari!"
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) October 3, 2022
Alperen Şengün had high praise for Jabari Smith following his 21 point night.
“He’s such a good player, he was very good today.” pic.twitter.com/Fs43BGvwdQ
— Chancellor Johnson (@ChancellorTV) October 3, 2022
Rockets rookies Tari Eason and Jabari Smith Jr. after scoring 21 points apiece and in Smith's case taking a shot to the eye from a collision with Bruno Fernando. pic.twitter.com/oPdOpEYhf4
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) October 3, 2022
Jabari Smith shot 62% from deep tonight—credited not being as nervous as he was at Summer League. pic.twitter.com/Z5ymHbdvDX
— Chancellor Johnson (@ChancellorTV) October 3, 2022
