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24 articles
HOU • • #
1 day ago
On a night when teammate Kevin Durant made some personal history, Smith had one of the best games of his NBA career. The Rockets’ forward finished with a season-high point total, and the seven three-pointers were a career-high. And to say Smith needed a night like Sunday would be an understatement. Even with this performance, he’s shot 36.1 percent from the field over the past two weeks. Smith will look to carry the momentum into a three-game Week 14 that begins on Tuesday against the Spurs.
HOU • • #
4 days ago
While double-doubles have been the norm for frontcourt partner Alperen Şengün, that hasn’t been the case for Smith. On Thursday, he recorded his eighth of the season and second since going on a run of four consecutive games with a double-double in mid-December. Rostered in 47 percent of Yahoo! leagues, Smith has been a 12th-round player in eight-cat formats over the past month.
HOU • • #
21 days ago
Smith had another great game against the Pacers on Monday. While Tari Eason is back starting and played 29 minutes, Smith’s fantasy value wasn’t impacted negatively. Smith is rostered in just 47 percent of Yahoo! leagues, which is simply too low. He’s provided sixth-round value over the last two weeks and is showing no signs of slowing down.
HOU • • #
23 days ago
Rostered in 47 percent of Yahoo! leagues, Smith has provided sixth-round per-game value in nine-cat formats over the past two weeks. While there is certainly concern about how Tari Eason’s return may affect his value, Smith was solid in wins over the Lakers and Cavaliers to end Week 10. Also, Eason (nine points, six rebounds, two steals, one block and two three-pointers in 21 minutes) will remain limited to 25 minutes, and back-to-backs remain off the board for the foreseeable future. For that reason, Smith’s fantasy value may be protected for the time being.
HOU • • #
about 1 month ago
Enjoying one of the most consistently productive stretches of his NBA career, Smith has recorded a double-double in four straight games. He also recorded his fifth 20-point game on Saturday, and over the last two weeks, Smith has provided sixth-round value in eight-cat formats. If there’s a concern, it’s the turnovers. Smith committed four on Saturday and is averaging 3.5 per game over the last two weeks.
HOU • • #
about 1 month ago
Smith had some good games with Alperen Sengun sidelined and had another good game with Sengun back in the lineup against the Clippers Thursday. The 22-year-old power forward has provided top-100 value this season, but has a limited ceiling playing alongside Sengun and Kevin Durant.
HOU • • #
about 1 month ago
Smith took advantage of Alperen Şengün’s absence due to an illness, recording a complete stat line while shooting better than 50 percent from the field. While he has reached double figures in scoring in 13 straight games, Saturday’s defeat was the third in which Smith scored at least 20 points. While he is providing top-100 value, Smith has a limited ceiling due to the presence of Şengün and Kevin Durant.
HOU • • #
about 2 months ago
Smith Jr. tallied another double-digit scoring performance, marking his 18th in 19 games this season — he didn’t get many looks at the rim on Friday but made the most of his opportunities. There wasn’t much production elsewhere for the fourth-year forward against Phoenix, but it wasn’t needed in the lopsided win. He’ll have a chance to find more production on Saturday against Dallas.
HOU • • #
about 2 months ago
Smith Jr. finished Wednesday as one of the Rockets’ leading scorers despite not shooting a great percentage. He did have success from the three-point line, but wasn’t able to land much production elsewhere. Yet, even with an unspectacular Wednesday performance, the fourth-year forward is putting together his highest-scoring and most efficient three-point shooting season of his career. He’ll have a chance to log better numbers against the Jazz on Sunday.
HOU • • #
about 2 months ago
Due to knee issues, Smith and Adams were initially questionable for Friday’s game. They’re both available and will start as part of a massive Rockets lineup. This is the second consecutive game that head coach Ime Udoka has gone with this lineup, first doing so in Wednesday’s win over the Cavaliers.
Source: Bennett Durando
HOU • • #
2 months ago
Smith was initially questionable for Wednesday’s win over the Cavaliers, but he started and played 31 minutes. If he can play against the Nuggets, the Rockets forward will be in line for a similar workload. If Smith can’t play, Reed Sheppard becomes a player of greater importance despite not playing the same position.
Source: NBA Injury Report
HOU • • #
2 months ago
Smith is good to go after being considered questionable on Houston’s initial injury report. He will shift up a position for Wednesday’s matchup, with Josh Okogie moving to the bench in favor of Steven Adams.
Source: Ethan Sands
HOU • • #
2 months ago
Smith most recently played 43 minutes in Sunday’s overtime win over the Magic, and his absence would leave a hole in the Rockets’ starting lineup. If he cannot play, Steven Adams is a potential replacement in the starting lineup, especially considering the matchup. Reed Sheppard may also see his minutes increase and should be rostered in 12-team leagues.
Source: NBA Injury Report
HOU • • #
2 months ago
It’s early, but Smith has started this season out well and is currently posting career-highs in points, three-pointers and field goal percentage. This was his second 20-point game of the season, and he matched his season-high for three-pointers. Smith has been a consistent presence in the starting lineup for the Rockets, and while he hasn’t had many big performances, he has been a steady performer.
HOU • • #
3 months ago
Smith is back after a one-game absence. He’ll regain his place in the starting lineup, with Tari Eason heading back to the bench. While his fantasy ceiling is lowered when used in a reserve role, Eason should still be rostered in 12-team leagues.
Source: Will Guillory
HOU • • #
3 months ago
Smith did not play in Monday’s win over the Mavericks, and Tari Eason replaced him in the starting lineup. If Smith cannot return on Wednesday, Eason will retain that role, raising his fantasy ceiling.
Source: NBA Injury Report
HOU • • #
3 months ago
Smith has been downgraded from questionable to out, opening up a spot in the Rockets’ starting lineup. Tari Eason will move into the starting lineup, and he’s worth streaming for the rebounding and defensive potential.
Source: Mike Curtis
HOU • • #
3 months ago
Smith is on the injury report with a sprained right ankle sustained during Saturday’s comfortable win over the Celtics. If he cannot play on Monday, Tari Eason and Steven Adams are potential replacements in the starting lineup. With the Mavericks’ lack of interior depth, Eason may be the more likely choice.
Source: NBA Injury Report
HOU • • #
3 months ago
Smith became the youngest Rocket in franchise history to have at least 25 points, at least five rebounds and at least five assists in a game without turning the ball over. The 22-year-old forward had his best game of the season so far. If Smith could sustain this production, we’d be talking about a breakout season and a spot on the All-Star team.
HOU • • #
3 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 • • #
3 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 • • #
3 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 • • #
3 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 • • #
4 months ago
The Rockets, who finished the 2024-25 regular season with the second-best record in the Western Conference, have four starters locked into their spots ahead of training camp. Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, Kevin Durant and Alperen Şengün will start, but who joins them? While the assumption of many has been that Jabari Smith Jr. will regain that role, Udoka has not made a decision. “It’s to be determined. I do think Jabari showed tremendous growth this offseason, and obviously he started the majority of his time here, before the injury,” Udoka told Rockets Wire’s Ben DuBose. “But we’ll take a look at everything. We feel we have incredible depth this year and a lot of versatility, so we could go a number of different ways, as far as that. I think some of that will be proven in training camp.” As a starter last season, Smith averaged 11.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, but he offered higher averages (13.2 points, 7.7 rebounds) coming off the bench. And the Rockets have options to fill the fifth starting spot. Dorian Finney-Smith and Tari Eason are two other possibilities, and Houston had some success during the first round of the playoffs when playing Steven Adams alongside Şengün.
Source: Rockets Wire