2 consecutive wins! There are 5 good news for the Rockets after the game, Durant praised one person, and Udoka explained his intentions

On October 9, 2025, in the second game of the NBA preseason, the Rockets defeated the Jazz 140-127 after four quarters and achieved two consecutive victories. After this game, there are five good news for the Rockets. From Durant's status to the performance of young players, fans can see the team's momentum in the new season. Coach Uduka's intention to build the team is also obvious.

Judging from the game data in this game, the Rockets showed obvious inside advantages and defensive toughness. They led the Jazz 47-35 in rebounds. Their steals 10-9 and blocks 6-4 also reflected their vitality on the defensive end. At the same time, the Rockets suppressed their opponents in many offensive statistics such as free throws (23-7), second-chance points (26-13), fast-break points (19-13), and penalty area points (68-46), and had better error control (13-20), which became the key to their victory.

The Jazz performed well in assists (36-32), field goal percentage (56%-53%), and three-point shooting percentage (44%-38%), demonstrating teamwork and outside shooting capabilities. However, too many mistakes and free throw shortcomings affected the trend of the game.

After the game, Rockets coach Uduka clearly emphasized that the team must improve its transition offensive capabilities and not rely on a single player to drive it. In addition, there are 5 good news:

First of all, the first good news is that although Durant is 37 years old, he is still young. He played 23 minutes in the game, making 7 of 10 field goals, 1 of 2 three-pointers, and all 5 free throws. He efficiently scored 20 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist. On the court, his scoring ability and game experience are still outstanding. He is completely unlike a player who is about to be 38 years old. His offensive stability gives the team reassurance.

The second good news is the performance of Amen Thompson. He is as brave as ever, showing dominance on both offense and defense. Played 25 minutes, made 9 of 15 field goals, 1 of 1 three-point field goal, 19 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals and 1 block. Whether it is breaking through the penalty area, shooting from outside, organizing passes, defensive steals and blocking shots, every performance he performs on the court is outstanding. He fully utilizes his all-round attributes and is an important fulcrum for the team's offensive and defensive transitions. After the game, Rockets star Durant was interviewed by the media and said directly when talking about his young teammate Amen: "In these two preseason games, Amen is omnipotent with the ball, and he is also very confident in shooting three-pointers. More importantly, he can make correct decisions and break through the penalty area strongly. Zone. I mean, I can see everything he does on the court: rebounding, blocking shots."

The third good news comes from the inside combination of Jabari Smith Jr. and Shen Jing, both of whom have their own characteristics. Jabari Smith Jr. made 7 of 11 shots and 3 of 5 three-pointers, contributing 18 points and 3 rebounds. His shooting ability has opened up the offensive space for the Rockets very well, so that opponents dare not easily shrink inside when defending him. Shen Jing became the core of the organization. He played 27 minutes, made 5 of 8 shots, and contributed 13 points, 5 rebounds, 13 assists and 4 steals. His ability in organizing offense is amazing, he has raised the coordination ability of inside players to a new level, and he is also very active on the defensive end, truly integrating offense and defense.

The fourth good news is that Sheppard has perfectly fulfilled his talent. He played 25 minutes, made 4 of 7 shots, contributed 11 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks. After the game, head coach Uduka said directly that everyone underestimated Sheppard's progress and his passing ability. He dares to play hard on the court, can score and pass on the offensive end, and can also contribute steals and blocks on the defensive end. He is a young man with great potential.

The fifth good news is that the Rockets' backup point guard Davidson also performed very well in this game. In this game, he scored 8 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists, and made 3 of 7 shots. The key is that his plus-minus value is +17, the best in the game. In addition to the 17 points he scored in the last game, he played wonderful performances in these two games. The Rockets really made a big profit by getting him, especially since Van Jordan was absent.

In this game, Bailey, the Jazz's No. 5 pick this year, also showed his offensive talent. In 31 minutes of playing time, he made 11 of 16 field goals, 2 of 5 three-pointers, and 1 free throw. He contributed 25 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block. All-round data, forming a rivalry with Durant. In addition, 6 members of the team scored in double figures, which also reflected their own characteristics. Nurkic added 12 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists and shot 5-for-5 from the field. Maybe it wasn't all because of him that the Suns gave up on him. The core of the game, Markkanen, did not play, but the Jazz still showed a very tenacious character.

The Rockets' new aid Durant's steady output, Amen Thompson's versatility, Jabari Smith Jr.'s shooting, Shen Jing's organization, Sheppard's talent realization, and the shining role players like Davidson. The Rockets' two preseason victories have made fans full of expectations for the new season.