Rockets' Jabari Smith: Struggles offensively in Game 6
Rotowire
Smith totaled nine points (3-11 FG, 1-6 3Pt, 2-3 FT), 12 rebounds, three assists and one block in 42 minutes during Friday's 98-78 loss to the Lakers in Game 6 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Smith finished with 22 points in Game 5. However, the 22-year-old had trouble getting anything going Friday night and was unable to help his team force a Game 7. Overall, Smith had a productive regular season, averaging a career-best 15.8 points with 6.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.9 blocks and 0.7 steals while shooting 44.9 percent from the field and 36.3 percent from deep across 35.1 minutes per contest. He also appeared in 77 games, his second-highest mark since entering the league in 2022. Smith, who agreed to a five-year, $122 million extension in Oct. 2025, will likely continue to hold a stable role as a starter for the Rockets moving ahead. Although he isn't the most consistent offensively, his durability and defensive prowess should continue to benefit the team during the 2026-27 campaign and beyond, assuming he remains on the roster.
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Rockets' Jabari Smith: Drops team-high 22 in Game 5 win
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Smith notched 22 points (6-13 FG, 4-9 3Pt, 6-8 FT), seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks across 42 minutes during Wednesday's 99-93 victory over the Lakers in Game 5 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
The 22 points led the Rockets on the night as they staved off elimination in Los Angeles. Smith has drained multiple three-pointers in every game of the first round so far, averaging 19.2 points, 7.8 boards, 3.6 threes, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals as his team continues to navigate the absence of Kevin Durant (ankle). Smith will look to stay productive as the series shifts back to Houston for Game 6 on Friday.
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Rockets' Jabari Smith: Logs double-double in defeat
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Smith logged 16 points (5-14 FG, 3-9 3Pt, 3-5 FT), 12 rebounds and two steals across 43 minutes during Saturday's 107-98 loss to the Lakers in Game 1 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Smith's performance on both sides of the ball helped to soften the blow caused by Kevin Durant's (knee) absence, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Lakers' relentless offensive onslaught. Smith has often been a savior for the Rockets when Durant or Alperen Sengun have been sidelined, but Game 1's result highlights the need for Durant on the court.
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Rockets' Jabari Smith: Not listed on injury report
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Smith (rest) is not on the injury report for Game 1 on Saturday against the Lakers.
Smith skipped Houston's regular-season finale for rest purposes, but he'll be back in action when the postseason begins. Smith put in averages of 15.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 2.3 triples per game this season.
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Rockets' Jabari Smith: Drops 19 against Philly
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Smith logged 19 points (7-15 FG, 1-7 3Pt, 4-6 FT), five rebounds and one block across 34 minutes during Thursday's 113-102 win over the 76ers.
The fourth-year forward continued a productive stretch to close out the regular season. Smith has scored at least 12 points in nine straight games, averaging 18.2 points, 7.8 boards, 3.1 threes, 1.8 assists and 0.9 blocks over that stretch as the Rockets try to climb past the Lakers and Nuggets for the third seed in the Western Conference.
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Rockets' Jabari Smith: Exits early Friday
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Smith (face) exited Friday's 140-106 win over the Jazz in the third quarter and did not return, finishing with 18 points (6-16 FG, 4-8 3Pt, 2-2 FT), five rebounds and one steal across 24 minutes.
Smith took a shot to the face in the third quarter and exited to the locker room. He joined his teammates on the bench shortly thereafter, though it's unclear if he was available to return to the blowout win. His status will be worth monitoring ahead of Sunday's game against the Warriors.
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Rockets' Jabari Smith: Leaves for locker room
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Smith exited to the locker room in the third quarter of Friday's game against the Jazz due to an apparent facial injury, Will Guillory of The Athletic reports.
Smith took a shot to the face and checked out with 5:54 remaining in the third before eventually heading back to the locker room. The 22-year-old power forward can be considered questionable to return until more information comes to light.
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Rockets' Jabari Smith: Double-doubles in win
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Smith totaled 21 points (7-16 FG, 2-7 3Pt, 5-8 FT), 16 rebounds, four assists and one block over 37 minutes during Friday's 119-109 win over the Grizzlies.
Smith dominated the glass and notched his second straight double-double, as he helped the Rockets hit the brakes on a two-game skid. Smith will look to keep the good times rolling Sunday in New Orleans.
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Rockets' Jabari Smith: Nets 23 points with full line
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Smith logged 23 points (7-14 FG, 3-8 3Pt, 6-8 FT), nine rebounds, two assists and two steals over 35 minutes during Friday's 117-95 victory over the Hawks.
This was Smith's second straight game with three triples, and he also snapped a two-game steal-less streak in the win. The fourth-year forward is hitting career highs in points (15.5), triples (2.2) and assists (1.8) per game this season, and he's been a steady top-75 player all year long.
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Rockets' Jabari Smith: Scores team-high 22 points
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Smith accumulated 22 points (9-17 FG, 2-8 3Pt, 2-2 FT), eight rebounds and one block across 40 minutes during Monday's 100-92 loss to the Lakers.
Smith assumed a larger role in the frontcourt during the loss, absorbing Alperen Sengun's (back) lost output. Smith's frame and skill set would be enough to play the five on almost any other team in the league, but Sengun's presence has limited his ability to embrace that kind of role. Smith is still having a great fourth season in his role, averaging 15.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists over 63 games.
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Rockets' Jabari Smith: Scores 16 points in win
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Smith ended Friday's 107-105 win over the Pelicans with 16 points (6-16 FG, 3-10 3Pt, 1-1 FT), five rebounds, three assists, one block and one steal in 38 minutes.
Smith has scored in double digits in his last four games since returning from a one-game absence on March 6 due to a right ankle sprain. The forward, who has managed to secure a steady role in the starting lineup, is averaging 16.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game since the All-Star break.
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Rockets' Jabari Smith: Puts up 23 points Tuesday
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Smith chipped in 23 points (8-14 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 4-4 FT), four rebounds, two assists and two steals in 35 minutes during Tuesday's 113-99 victory over the Raptors.
Smith scored at least 20 points for the first time since Feb. 23 on Tuesday. The fourth-year big man is cooling down a bit overall after a hot stretch in February, with Smith averaging 13.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.0 three-pointers in 34.0 minutes per game over his last five contests.
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Rockets' Jabari Smith: Questionable for Friday
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Smith (ankle) is listed as questionable for Friday's game against the Trail Blazers.
Smith logged a heavy 42-minute workload in his return from a two-game absence Thursday, though he struggled significantly with his shot, finishing 0-for-8 from the floor. While the heavy minutes suggest the Rockets aren't overly concerned with the long-term health of his right ankle, the quick turnaround for the second half of a back-to-back has placed his availability in doubt. If Smith is ultimately held out to manage the injury, Reed Sheppard and Josh Okogie would likely see increased roles in the rotation.
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Rockets' Jabari Smith: Logs big minutes in return
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Smith (ankle) registered three points (0-8 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 3-4 FT), 11 rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal across 42 minutes Thursday in the Rockets' 115-113 overtime loss to the Warriors.
Though Smith couldn't get any shots to fall in his return from a two-game absence, the heavy minutes he received are an indication that the Rockets aren't concerned about the health of his right ankle moving forward. The poor shooting performance should be viewed as an outlier for Smith, who had hit double figures in the scoring column while converting at a 55 percent clip from the field and 45.1 percent clip from downtown over his previous 13 appearances.
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Rockets' Jabari Smith: Set to return Thursday
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Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said that Smith (ankle) practiced Wednesday and is expected to play Thursday against the Warriors, Varun Shankar of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Smith looks poised to play after missing the Rockets' previous two games due to a right ankle sprain. With Amen Thompson (ankle) also likely to return to action, the Rockets are expected to move Reed Sheppard back to the bench.
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Rockets' Jabari Smith: Doesn't return Thursday
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Smith did not return to Thursday's game against the Magic due to a right ankle injury. He finished with 13 points (6-7 FG, 1-1 3Pt), one rebound and one assist over 29 minutes in a 113-108 win.
Smith was taken out at the 1:42 mark of the fourth quarter after he rolled his ankle when he stepped on Alperen Sengun's foot. Smith will undergo further tests to determine the severity of the injury, but it puts him in jeopardy of missing Saturday's game against the Heat, which would be his first absence since Nov. 3. Josh Okogie, Reed Sheppard and Dorian Finney-Smith figure to be the top candidates to enter the Rockets' starting lineup if Smith were to miss time.
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Rockets' Jabari Smith: Tallies another double-double
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Smith notched 16 points (6-12 FG, 2-7 3Pt, 2-2 FT) and 12 rebounds over 36 minutes during Wednesday's 105-102 loss to the Clippers.
Smith turned in his third consecutive double-double Wednesday. The fourth-year big man has averaged 14.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.0 steals in 35.4 minutes per contest in his last 10 games, shooting 41.8 percent from deep.
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Rockets' Jabari Smith: Big double-double in win
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Smith notched 22 points (5-12 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 9-11 FT), 10 rebounds, one block and one steal across 43 minutes during Saturday's 112-106 victory over Oklahoma City.
The double-double was his 10th of the season, while the scoring effort was Smith's best since he erupted for a season-high 32 against the Pelicans on Jan. 18. The fourth-year forward has scored in double digits in six straight contests, averaging 17.3 points, 6.8 boards, 2.5 threes, 2.2 blocks, 1.8 assists and 1.0 steals over that stretch.
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Rockets' Jabari Smith: Turns in solid game
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Smith produced 17 points (7-10 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 2-3 FT), seven rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal over 33 minutes during Thursday's 109-99 loss to the Hornets.
Smith extended his double-digit scoring streak to five games in the loss to Charlotte. Smith and Kevin Durant were the lone bright spots offensively as no other Rockets players scored in double figures.
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Rockets' Jabari Smith: Productive again Saturday
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Smith closed with 19 points (7-13 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 2-2 FT), eight rebounds, two assists and three blocks across 33 minutes during Saturday's 111-107 victory over the Mavericks.
Smith produced on both ends of the floor, once again flashing his two-way upside. In fact, in eight appearances over the past two weeks, Smith has been able to flirt with top-30 value in standard leagues, averaging 15.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.5 three-pointers and 2.5 combined steals and blocks. He will look to continue his recent momentum in what could be a favorable matchup against the Pacers on Monday.
