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

Rockets Twitter reacts as Jabari Smith Jr. beats Pelicans at buzzer

Jabari Smith Jr Jabari Smith Rockets Pelicans Jalen Green Kelly Iko Kevin Porter Jr Adam Spolane Alperen Sengun Ben DuBose

HOUSTON — Rockets rookie Jabari Smith Jr. continued his memorable March with the biggest moment of his NBA career so far.

With his team down one and time running out, Smith buried a deep 3-pointer with only 0.4 seconds left in Friday’s game, giving Houston a 114-112 victory (box score) over the visiting New Orleans Pelicans. It sent Toyota Center into a frenzy and lifted a young Rockets squad to its first three-game winning streak of the 2022-23 season.

Buy Rockets Tickets

New Orleans fell to 33-37 with the loss, while Houston improved to 18-52 following its fifth win in eight games.

For Smith, who drilled a game-tying 3-pointer in the closing seconds last Thursday in Indiana, it’s his second time in eight days to come through when it mattered most for the Rockets.

This time, Houston trailed by double digits for much of second half, but they staged a furious rally in the fourth quarter to climb past Brandon Ingram (31 points, 6 assists) and the Pelicans.

Jalen Green led the Rockets with 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists on 10-of-20 shooting (50.0%). Those numbers included a long two-pointer in the final minute, which brought Houston within a point and set the stage for Smith’s heroics on the final possession.

Kevin Porter Jr. added 20 points for the Rockets on 5-of-12 shooting from 3-point range (41.7%), while Alperen Sengun had 17 points and 11 rebounds on 8-of-17 shooting (47.1%).

But it was the Smith (11 points, 8 rebounds) who went out as a hero, and for good reason. Here’s a look at how fans and players across the NBA reacted in real-time to the 19-year-old — drafted at No. 3 overall in the 2022 first round — making a name for himself in crunch time.

Jabari Smith Jr. beats the buzzer

Reaction to Jabari Smith Jr.’s heroics

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
John Brolin uses nicotine pouches 24 hours a day: ‘I don’t even know I’m doing it’
‘Dune’ actor says he sleeps with pouches in his mouth
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Is Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson a real fight?
It's natural to wonder if Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson is a real fight given it's a 27-year-old vs. a 58-year-old.
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Egg-shaped galaxies may be aligned to the black holes at their hearts, astronomers find
Black holes don’t have many identifying features. They come in one colour (black) and one shape (spherical).
The Conversation
The Conversation
Is it normal for my partner to watch porn without me?
Many people watch porn, but what if one partner feels threatened by it?
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
How to watch Jake Paul v Mike Tyson and more pre-fight questions, answered
What time does it start? Why Netflix? And what about that 31-year age difference? We (mostly) have the answers
The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello 'haven't been the closest' lately
Shawn Mendes says he and ex-girlfriend Camila Cabello have drifted apart over the past "couple of years".
BANG Premier
BANG Premier
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play