Jabari Smith Jr. Drops 30 as Rockets Rout Thunder 119-98

Jabari Smith Jr. delivered his best performance of the young season Saturday night, scoring 30 points with nine rebounds as the Houston Rockets routed the Oklahoma City Thunder 119-98 at Toyota Center. Smith shot 10-of-18 from the field and knocked down six three-pointers, helping Houston bounce back immediately after Dallas handed the Rockets their first loss one night earlier.

Houston controlled the game from the opening quarter and never trailed after the first few minutes. Marcus Smart supplied 24 points and made seven threes, while Alperen Sengun returned from a two-game absence caused by lower-back soreness and nearly recorded a triple-double with 16 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists. Kevin Durant added 14 points. The Rockets finished 18-of-41 from three-point range and limited Oklahoma City to 98 points. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 26.

The most encouraging development for Houston was Smith’s perimeter confidence. His six made threes gave the Rockets the spacing they needed against a Thunder defense already dealing with major injuries, and his nine rebounds added another layer to a complete night. Houston’s first loss did not linger: less than 24 hours later, the Rockets responded with a 21-point win against Oklahoma City and another reminder of how dangerous their offense can be when Smith is stretching the floor.