Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Ben DuBose

Jabari Smith Jr. builds shooting momentum as Nets blast Rockets

Jabari Smith Jr Rockets Nets Jalen Green Jackson Gatlin Alperen Sengun Ben DuBose Jonathan Feigen Nic Claxton Brooklyn

With shooting percentages of below 40% from the field and 30% from 3-point range, 2022-23 hasn’t been the rookie season Jabari Smith Jr. expected with the Houston Rockets. After all, shooting was supposedly one of the 19-year-old’s strengths when he was drafted at No. 3 in the 2022 first round out of Auburn.

There are, however, some positive signs of late. In Houston’s 118-96 loss (box score) on Tuesday to Brooklyn, Smith had 15 points and 8 rebounds on 6-of-13 shooting (46.7%) and 3-of-7 on 3-pointers (42.9%). Over his last three games, the 6-foot-11 forward is shooting 53.8% overall and 41.7% on 3-pointers, and that has led to better results for the rebuilding Rockets (15-50), who are 2-1 during that span.

Buy Rockets Tickets

It wasn’t nearly enough to beat the Nets (37-28), who were led by yet another strong game from Mikal Bridges. The versatile wing acquired from Phoenix in the Kevin Durant trade scored a game-high 30 points on 9-of-20 shooting (45%) and 4-of-10 on 3-pointers (40%).

But within the appropriate context, there were positive signs for Smith and the rest of a young Rockets. Big man Alperen Sengun added 16 points and 12 rebounds on 6-of-12 shooting (50%), while Jalen Green scored a team-high 25 points on 9-of-21 shooting (42.9%).

Scroll on for highlights, analysis and postgame interviews. Next up for Houston is Thursday night’s road game at Indiana, with the tip from Gainbridge Fieldhouse set for 6 p.m. Central.

Highlights

Analysis and Interviews

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
What are ‘Pink tote lid moments’? Dark TikTok trend explained
The dark trend has seen both young people and adults sharing troubling stories
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Cruel Intentions review – this generic remake of the 90s classic is utterly mindless
Sarah Michelle Gellar and Ryan Phillippe’s movie gets a melodramatic YA remake – with a pair of actors who aren’t a patch on the originals. Just dig out the original instead
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
US moves to list giraffes under Endangered Species Act for first time
Climate crisis, habitat loss and poaching have reduced its numbers – but will Trump put the kibosh on protections?
The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
“Who’s The One Actor That You Hate But Everyone Else Seems To Love?” (50 Answers)
No matter how popular they are, most celebrities have haters, too. Actors are no exception. The post “Who’s The One Actor That You Hate But Everyone Else Seems To Love?” (50 Answers) first appeared on Bored Panda.
Bored Panda
Bored Panda
Cher Reveals the "Fiasco" That Ensued When She Performed for Princess Margaret in 1965: "I Was Mortified"
"It was like a bad dream that we couldn’t get out of; we just had to stand there and wait for it to be over."
Marie Claire
Marie Claire
From frozen to feast, how to safely defrost your Thanksgiving turkey
Experts have recommended three different methods to defrost your turkey for Thanksgiving dinner
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play