Rockets' Jabari Smith Jr. Records First 30-Point Game In Loss To Pacers: 'My Confidence Coming Back'
A day before the Houston Rockets took on the Indiana Pacers Thursday night, Jabari Smith Jr. said he was starting to feel like himself — the Auburn University prospect who shot 42.0 percent from behind the arc in his lone collegiate season.
"It's just my confidence coming back," Smith said. "My teammates are trusting in me. And I am trusting myself and my work."
The restored self-confidence led to Smith's best career shot to date. The Rockets trailed the Pacers 115-112 with seven seconds left in the fourth quarter.
Smith received an inbound pass from Jae'Sean Tate. And following one dribble, Smith rose over the top of Pacers' Aaron Nesmith to drill his third and final 3-point field goal of the night.
His late-game heroics marked a career-best 30-point performance. But more importantly, Smith's basket sent the Rockets' interconference match against the Pacers into overtime. He also recorded his 10th career double-double with 12 rebounds.
The Rockets lost in overtime 134-125 to the Pacers inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse. But before the shot, Smith foreshadowed his clutch basket to Daishen Nix while walking out of the huddle.
Smith's play against the Pacers indicated the extra time spent working alongside assistant coaches Rick Higgins and John Lucas II to break free from his shooting struggles.
But Smith's performance also proved he never lost the trust and belief of his coaches and teammates.
"We know the real Jabari," Jalen Green said. "He just shot it well tonight — and that's a good thing. Hopefully, he can take all the momentum from tonight's game and carry it throughout the rest of the season."
Smith was in a rookie slump in the four games post-All-Star break. He had averaged 8.5 points while shooting an appalling 0.63 percent from behind the arc.
Coach Stephen Silas once compared Smith's struggles to a batter in baseball, where all it takes is one hit for a player to regain their swing.
"He made three 3's tonight, including the big one that sent the game into overtime," Silas said. "Jabari is an example of the fight of this group that we preach on the daily basis."
Smith knocked down a corner triple against the San Antonio Spurs Saturday night inside the AT&T Center. And since his 3-point field goal attempt, Smith has regained his shooting touch.
Following a career night against the Pacers, Smith has shot 47.0 percent from behind the arc with eight made triples. His current shooting has illustrated what made Smith a highly sought-after prospect entering the draft last June.
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