130-128
FINALHouston
Rockets
57-33|L10: 6-4
New
Orleans Pelicans
26-58|L10: 1-9
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Eastern Conference
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NOP • Power Forward • #17
6 months ago
Matkovic will join Kevon Looney (knee) on the sidelines, which means Yves Missi and Zion Williamson should see a healthy dose of minutes in New Orleans’ frontcourt. Rookie Derik Queen (wrist) is available, and he could see additional opportunities in this one.
Source: NBA Injury Report
HOU • G • #15
6 months ago
Sheppard was not in the starting five for Tuesday’s opener, with Rockets head coach Ime Udoka preferring to go with a big lineup that featured Amen Thompson at the point. Sheppard did play 28 minutes off the bench, but there were struggles, especially on defense. Oklahoma City wasted no time attacking Sheppard in the half-court while forcing him to make plays offensively. This wasn’t the worst night for the second-year guard, but it was a reminder of how much room for growth there is. And with Aaron Holiday picking up a DNP-CD, playing time should not be an issue for Sheppard.
HOU • • #
6 months ago
Smith was one of four Rockets starters to attempt at least 15 shots in Tuesday’s double-overtime defeat, which is good news for a player who averaged a career-low 9.9 shots per game last season. With the lineup Houston rolled out Tuesday night, with Smith starting at small forward, he’ll have ample catch-and-shoot opportunities playing off of Alperen Şengün, Kevin Durant and Amen Thompson. If Smith can convert at a solid clip while providing improved rebound and defensive production, he can approach top-100 fantasy value this season.
HOU • Guard-Forward • #1
6 months ago
Tuesday’s opening night thriller required two overtime periods to determine a winner, but Thompson was not on the court for most of those 10 minutes. He exited with what appeared to be a cramp in his right calf with just under four minutes remaining in the first overtime and did not return. Following the loss, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka confirmed the cramping for his star wing. Thompson missed all seven of his three-point attempts on the night, but his willingness to keep shooting is encouraging. Thompson finished with a complete stat line, and there’s a lot to like about his fantasy potential with the ball being in his hands more.
Source: Will Guillory
HOU • Forward • #35
6 months ago
Returning to the city where he began his NBA career on Thunder ring/banner night, Durant struggled with his perimeter shot (0-of-4 from three) and finished with more turnovers (four) than assists (three) in the one-point defeat. Things could have worsened in the first overtime, as Durant was signaling for a timeout the Rockets did not have. However, the officials did not acknowledge the request, so the game went into a second overtime. Durant, who was excellent in the mid-range, will find his perimeter shot in time while getting more acclimated to an offense that currently lacks a legitimate point guard. There’s no need to sound the alarm after Game 1, and his overall shooting and rebounding numbers were solid.
HOU • Center • #28
6 months ago
Şengün was sensational in Tuesday’s one-point defeat, recording a complete stat line and finishing three assists shy of a triple-double. Included in that stat line was a 5-of-8 effort from beyond the arc, a career-high in made triples for the Rockets center. Şengün effectively served as the starting power forward in Houston’s opening lineup, as head coach Ime Udoka decided to go big and start Steven Adams (four points, 13 rebounds and three assists in 37 minutes) at center. Regardless of where he’s used within the Rockets’ offense, Şengün will be a critical figure, especially with Fred VanVleet (ACL) unavailable. One game doesn’t constitute an entire season, but managers who have Şengün rostered must be thrilled with his performance on Opening Night.
HOU • Forward • #17
6 months ago
Finney-Smith underwent ankle surgery in early June, and during media day in late September, Udoka said the veteran forward would likely miss the start of the regular season. Based on Tuesday’s update, it’s unknown when Finney-Smith will be deemed healthy enough to play. Consider him out indefinitely, and there’s no need to stash DFS in an IL+ slot.
Source: Danielle Lerner
HOU • Forward • #8
6 months ago
Still recovering from offseason ankle surgery, Tate did not play at all during the preseason and will not be available for Tuesday’s opener against the Thunder. However, he appears close to a return, with Udoka saying the team hopes to have Tate available on Friday. He can fill multiple roles, providing frontcourt depth off the bench, but there isn’t much to gain from rostering Tate in fantasy leagues.
Source: Danielle Lerner
HOU • Forward • #24
6 months ago
Crawford was unlikely to be part of the Rockets’ rotation if he were deemed healthy enough to play. His absence does not impact fantasy basketball.
Source: NBA Injury Report
NOP • Power Forward • #17
6 months ago
With Kevon Looney (knee) already out, the Pelicans will likely be without two centers for Wednesday’s opener. Matković is doubtful due to lower back spasms, leaving New Orleans light on options beyond Yves Missi. Derik Queen (wrist) is off the injury report, so he can play rotation minutes in his first action after missing the entire preseason. There may also be moments when the Pelicans slide Zion Williamson to the five as part of a smaller lineup.
Source: New Orleans Pelicans
HOU • Forward • #24
6 months ago
Crawford, limited during the preseason, may be available for Tuesday’s opener. However, his status does not impact the Rockets’ rotation or fantasy basketball. Leave him on the waiver wire.
Source: NBA Injury Report
HOU • Forward • #8
6 months ago
Tate, who underwent right ankle surgery during the offseason, is not ready to return to game action. He did not offer fantasy value last season, and that’s unlikely to change in 2025-26, especially with the offseason additions to the Rockets’ roster.
Source: NBA Injury Report
HOU • • #
6 months ago
Udoka has been coy about his starting five, but this update confirms that he’s rolling out a jumbo lineup. At 6'7, Thompson is the shortest of the group, as every other starter stands 6'11. Oklahoma City will likely be starting Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren, so perhaps the first unit for this contest is purely matchup-based. Fantasy managers should expect Durant, Thompson and Sengun to be locked into the starting five, but the other two spots may be fluid.
Source: Vanessa Richardson
HOU • Forward • #35
6 months ago
According to Shams, Durant was eligible for a max extension of up to $120 million but took less money to help the team remain flexible with its roster moving forward. The final season of the deal (2027-28) includes a player option, and Durant won’t be an unrestricted free agent again until the summer of 2028. Houston clearly believes its title window is open for the immediate future with Durant on the roster, so locking him in for two additional seasons was a no-brainer. Durant’s age and Houston’s depth may make his minutes harder to come by this season, but he’s still likely to finish as a top-25 fantasy player in 2025-26.
Source: Shams Charania
HOU • G • #20
6 months ago
After appearing in 36 NBA games over three seasons with the Celtics, Davison is on a two-way contract with the Rockets. The former G League star is not in a position where he’ll be guaranteed rotation minutes, but Houston lacks guard depth in the aftermath of Fred VanVleet’s torn ACL. With G League players allowed to be active for up to 50 regular-season games, there may be times when Davison is asked to play rotation minutes off the bench. He isn’t a draftable player in fantasy leagues, but savvy deep-league managers will have Davison on their watchlists.
HOU • Guard • #12
6 months ago
With the Rockets resting most of their key players in their expected regular-season rotation, Okogie started and had the ultimate “green light” in Atlanta. The former Georgia Tech standout put up excellent numbers on Thursday, but fantasy managers should know this is not the norm. Okogie will be called upon to provide solid defense off the bench, and there may be a few opportunities to knock down shots during the regular season. However, Thursday’s performance is not enough to make him a draftable player in most fantasy leagues.
NOP • Power Forward • #1
6 months ago
Williamson had another strong performance on Thursday, posting preseason-highs in points and assists in just 22 minutes of game action. He finished well at the rim, and when he wasn’t doing that, his impact as a facilitator was felt. Williamson played under 30.0 minutes per game last season for the first time since his rookie campaign. If he can see an increase in minutes while remaining healthy, the former first-overall pick should be in for a productive season.
NOP • Small Forward • #25
6 months ago
Murphy finally found his rhythm from beyond the arc on Thursday, after going 3-of-12 from deep through the first two preseason games. His output against the Magic topped his previous total coming into the evening, and he tied a preseason-high in points along the way. Murphy was enjoying a career-best season during the 2024-25 campaign before a shoulder injury ended his season prematurely. Now healthy, the path to another productive season seems clear.
HOU • G • #15
6 months ago
Houston’s rotation for Thursday’s preseason finale was limited, as head coach Ime Udoka rested most of his key players. However, that decision opened things up for Sheppard, who took advantage of the opportunity. In addition to shooting efficiently and making plays for others, the second-year guard was an absolute menace defensively. Sheppard’s role on Thursday did not resemble what he’ll be asked to do once the games count. However, his solid play throughout the preseason was encouraging, especially with Fred VanVleet (knee) possibly missing the entire season. Sheppard isn’t an automatic top-100 pick in standard drafts, but he should not last too far beyond that threshold.
NOP • Shooting Guard and Point Guard • #13
6 months ago
Poole had his most productive scoring game of the preseason as a Pelican, surpassing 20 points on Thursday for the first time. He did so with solid shooting efficiency, although he struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 25.0 percent on high volume. The former NBA champion didn’t make a notable impact in any other statistical categories, but leading the team in scoring is noteworthy. He should have a large role for New Orleans once the regular season begins, and could be a nice complement on offense to Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III.
HOU • Guard • #12
6 months ago
The Rockets effectively treated Tuesday’s win over the Pelicans as a dress rehearsal for the regular season, so many of the team’s stars will not play on Thursday. Many fantasy managers will have an eye on Reed Sheppard, who is not guaranteed to be a starter when the regular season begins. Matchups may dictate his place within the Rockets’ rotation, especially with Amen Thompson being a capable playmaker and Houston having excellent depth in the frontcourt. Holiday may have the best odds of landing consistent rotation minutes among Thursday’s other starters, but he is not a must-have in fantasy leagues.
Source: Danielle Lerner
NOP • Center and Power Forward • #5
7 months ago
Looney suffered a sprain in his left knee during a preseason win, but he will likely miss the start of the season. It doesn’t seem like this will be a long-term injury, but more information should be provided after the re-evaluation period. Yves Missi should start at center and play a ton of minutes early on until Looney and Derik Queen (wrist) return to the lineup.
Source: New Orleans Pelicans
NOP • • #
7 months ago
The rookie struggled in his first preseason game and was fine in his second, but it was this third one where he really flashed his upside. He missed the game-winning shot at the buzzer, which would’ve been a nice moment to finish out a strong performance. He should be able to have some nice moments throughout his first season in the league, but there won’t be performances like this often.
NOP • Center • #21
7 months ago
The starting center spot in New Orleans is still up for grabs, and Missi made a strong case with his performance in this game. His competition for the starting job is with Kevon Looney, who didn’t play in this one. Missi is the better fantasy option, but Looney may be the best fit for this team. We’ll see which one they roll with, but if it’s Looney, his fantasy upside will be limited.
HOU • • #
7 months ago
Smith has progressively gotten better throughout this preseason, and this was his best performance yet. He won’t be scoring at this rate during the regular season often, but it was encouraging to see him have a night like this. He’ll be an important piece on both ends of the floor for Houston this season and is locked in as a starter, but he isn’t a great fantasy option.
HOU • Center • #12
7 months ago
Houston’s starting unit will likely be matchup dependent this season, and they experimented with their two-big lineup in this one. When they utilize it, Adams will be a nice source of rebounds, but that’s about it. Sengun was still able to grab 12 boards while playing alongside Adams, which was encouraging for his value.
HOU • Guard-Forward • #1
7 months ago
Who said Thompson can’t shoot? Not only was he perfect from the free throw line, but he also knocked down two triples in this game. Thompson will be a fantasy beast this season, but managers shouldn’t expect him to shoot as well as he did in this game. However, if it happens from time to time, it’ll be a nice bonus.
NOP • Center • #21
7 months ago
Coach Willie Green still hasn’t decided who will be the starting center this season, and Missi will get the nod over Kevon Looney for this exhibition. The other four starters should be part of the opening night lineup, but Missi and Looney’s competition is worth keeping an eye on. This is New Orleans’ first preseason game against another NBA team, with a matchup with the Magic coming up on Thursday.
Source: Will Guillory
HOU • Center • #12
7 months ago
Coach Ime Udoka is still experimenting with starting lineups, and he’ll roll out a bigger one for this game, which pushes Reed Sheppard to the bench. It’s still unclear what lineup he’ll use on opening night, and it seems likely that it will be matchup dependent throughout the year.
Source: Will Guillory
NOP • Center • #21
7 months ago
While second-year center Yves Missi spent most of last season as the starter, he isn’t guaranteed to take on that role in 2025-26. In addition to trading up to draft the currently injured Derik Queen (wrist) in June’s draft, the Pelicans signed veteran Kevon Looney in free agency. Looney started both of the team’s exhibition games in Australia, but Missi played more minutes. And Green has some non-negotiables when it comes to who will earn the right to start come opening night. “Who goes out and competes the hardest? Who gives us the opportunity to start games well?” Green said Thursday. “For all of our bigs, that’s the non-negotiables for us. Time will tell. We’ve got two more games, then we’ll go from there.” Until Queen is cleared to resume full contact, Missi is the option who possesses the highest fantasy upside among the healthy Pelicans.
Source: Pelicans Film Room
HOU • G • #15
7 months ago
After an occasionally shaky performance in Houston’s preseason opener on Monday, Sheppard looked more comfortable Wednesday night. Having Kevin Durant on the floor certainly helps, but the second-year guard deserves credit for his improved production and efficiency. With Durant, Amen Thompson and Alperen Şengün on the court, there won’t be too much pressure on Sheppard if he were to begin the regular season as Fred VanVleet’s (knee) replacement in the starting lineup. Selecting him with a top-100 pick would be too much, but Sheppard should be drafted in all standard leagues.
HOU • Center • #28
7 months ago
Fred VanVleet’s torn ACL has placed the spotlight squarely on second-year guard Reed Sheppard during the preseason, but he isn’t the only capable playmaker at head coach Ime Udoka’s disposal. Şengün and Amen Thompson (19/7/6/2/1 with one three-pointer) are also positive assets, with the latter finishing Wednesday’s victory with a points/assists double-double. Şengün has averaged 2.6 turnovers per game over the last three seasons, but can he maintain that with increased playmaking responsibilities? If so, the Rockets center can be a fantasy stud in 2025-26.
HOU • • #
7 months ago
Smith remained in the starting lineup on Wednesday, with Tari Eason (8/3/3 with one three-pointer in 19 minutes) dropped to the bench to make room for Kevin Durant. Of course, this does not mean Rockets head coach Ime Udoka has finalized his starting lineup, but Smith’s perimeter shooting ability may give him the edge. The fourth-year forward shot 3-of-5 from beyond the arc against the Jazz, and that floor-spacing ability will be critical since neither Amen Thompson nor Alperen Şengün offers much value as a perimeter shooter.
HOU • Forward • #35
7 months ago
Durant did not show off the full repertoire on Wednesday, but he did show flashes of why many believe he’ll raise Houston’s ceiling this season. After shooting 1-of-4 from the field in the first quarter, Durant was 6-of-6 in the second and third quarters before ending his night after 23 minutes of action. Even with the point guard position being a question mark due to Fred VanVleet’s torn ACL, Durant’s offensive ability will make a difference for the Rockets. The days of being a first-round pick in fantasy leagues may be in the rearview mirror, but KD should be off the board in the second round in standard leagues.
HOU • Forward • #35
7 months ago
Durant, who did not play in Monday’s win over the Hawks, will make his Rockets preseason debut Wednesday night, bumping Tari Eason to the bench. Of course, the future Hall of Fame forward will be the focus of many, but his credentials are well-known by now. Sheppard remains the most essential Rocket to watch this preseason, as he looks to lock down a starting role with Fred VanVleet (knee) sidelined.
Source: Houston Rockets