Through their first seven games of the 2026-27 season, the Houston Rockets (6-1) are tied for the most wins of any NBA team. One big reason is Jabari Smith Jr.’s career year.
After Saturday’s 119-98 victory (box score) over Oklahoma City, the 23-year-old power forward is averaging career-highs in points (19.0), field-goal percentage (48.9%), 3-point percentage (44.7%), free-throw percentage (88.0%), and true-shooting percentage (64.6%).
Versus the Thunder, Smith led the Rockets with 30 points and 9 rebounds while shooting 10-of-18 overall (55.6%), 6-of-12 on 3-pointers (50.0%), and 4-of-5 on free throws (80.0%).
“He impacted the game in a ton of ways,” head coach Ime Udoka said postgame. “But when a shot is falling like that and he’s got bigs on his
some, he’s going to get those looks.”
After scoring 30+ points twice in 2025-26, Smith has matched it in just the first seven games of 2026-27.
“It’s just the benefit of playing with good players,” Smith said of his approach. “Alpi (Alperen Sengun) will draw a lot of attention. KD (Kevin Durant) will draw a lot of attention. I’m left alone sometimes, so it’s just on me to be aggressive in those moments. Knock down shots, and just play my game.”
What a night by Jabari Smith Jr. #AllFire
— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) November 1, 2026
🏀30 PTS🏀6 3'S🏀9 REB🏀5 AST🏀+33🏀
He talked with @TheRyanHollins after the @HoustonRockets 119-98 win over OKC pic.twitter.com/m2a0l55I17
Against the Thunder (4-2), other individual standouts included:
- Marcus Smart: 24 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists; 7-of-10 on 3-pointers (70.0%)
- Alperen Sengun: 16 points, 9 assists, 9 rebounds; 6-of-17 shooting (35.3%), 4-of-6 on free throws (66.7%)
- Kevin Durant: 14 points, 4 assists, 3 blocks; 4-of-9 shooting (44.4%), 6-of-6 on free throws
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder): 26 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists; 10-of-20 shooting, 3-of-6 on 3-pointers (50.0%)
But the clear headliner was Smith, who went a game-best +33 in his 33 minutes played.
“Losing kinda rubbed us the wrong way, so we didn’t want to lose two in a row,” said Smith, whose Rockets lost their only game a night earlier in Dallas. “We wanted to come out here and get the job done. Back-to-backs, nobody cares. Everybody has back-to-backs. The good teams win them.”
Saturday’s game opened up a three-game homestand for the Rockets, and it continues with Monday’s visit from the Boston Celtics (4-1).
Tipoff from Toyota Center is at 7:30 p.m. Central, and the game will be televised and streamed regionally on Space City Home Network (SCHN) and to national and international audiences via NBA League Pass.
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: 6-1 Rockets fueled by career year (so far) from Jabari Smith Jr.
