NBA: Spurs demons exorcised, Thunder out for 5th straight win vs. Rockets

Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. overcame a rough start on Tuesday night to help the Rockets secure a 119-113 victory over the Chicago Bulls. The win snapped Houston’s three-game losing streak and marked the start of a five-game homestand, which continues Thursday against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Smith, who had been struggling all month—shooting just 30.1% overall and 17.1% from three-point range—missed his first five attempts from beyond the arc. However, he found his rhythm late in the game, scoring 10 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, including eight straight points in the final three minutes, highlighted by a pair of timely 3-pointers.

“I was putting the blame on myself for the losses. I feel like if I step up and do my job, we win the game,” Smith said. “That was the biggest thing, and everybody was telling me not to think like that. My teammates stayed on me and gave me confidence. Everybody’s seen me make shots, everybody’s seen me have hot streaks, and just remembering who I am and the work I put in this game was key. My teammates were very, very supportive for sure.”

Before Smith took over, the Rockets tightened their play, committing only one turnover in the second half after the Bulls had converted eight first-half Houston turnovers into 13 points. Ball security remains a crucial factor in Houston’s offensive success.

“It feels like when we try to get too cute and don’t make the simple pass out of the double team, we get a lot of turnovers,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “At the same time, it’s just some randomness as well. We have a lot of guys who push in transition, and a lot of those turnovers happened there. The guys handling the most need to be strong with the ball.”

Looking ahead, the Rockets face a Thunder team that is hitting its stride. Oklahoma City earned its first win in four games on Tuesday, dominating the San Antonio Spurs 119-98. After a brief mid-season slump, the Thunder appear to be returning to their early-season form, having followed a two-game skid with four consecutive victories.

“Every single game is an opportunity to be as consistent to your identity as you can,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “Even in the worst games, you have great possessions; even in the best games, you have bad possessions. We’re just trying to be as consistent as possible, possession by possession, game after game. The trick is staying there as long as possible and getting back on track when you’re not.”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 34 points, continuing his impressive season as the league’s second-leading scorer at 31.9 points per game, trailing only Luka Doncic (33.4).

The Rockets-Thunder matchup Thursday promises a clash of two teams determined to maintain momentum as they navigate the heart of the NBA season.

—Field Level Media/Reuters