'Snubbed!' Jabari Smith Jr. vs. Chet Holmgren: 'Motivation' Fuels Houston Rockets' Win Over Oklahoma City Thunder - Notebook
HOUSTON — Jabari Smith Jr. was in a good mood following the Houston Rockets' 110-101 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder Wednesday night.
He helped the Rockets end a three-game losing streak with a career-best 18 rebounds. But on an individual level, Smith was glad to have made a statement to the team that passed on him with the No. 2 pick of the 2022 NBA Draft. Smith outplayed his draftmate Chet Holmgren, who the Thunder selected with the second pick.
The game marked Holmgren's and Smith's first meeting against each other. A Lisfranc injury robbed Holmgren of the entire 2022-23 season. Inside the locker room after the game, Smith kept bobbing his head, singing Rock Your Body by Justin Timberlake.
"This is one of the teams that passed on me," Smith said. "It is always at the back of my mind. But they made their pick. I don't think about it too much. But I'll use it as motivation. They are also a young team that's growing. And we will be seeing them for years to come."
Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. reacts a basket by guard Aaron Holiday against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second half at Toyota Center.
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Holmgren came into Houston as a top candidate to take home Rookie of the Year honors, averaging 17.6 points on .531/.395/.865 shooting splits while adding 8.0 rebounds and 2.2 blocks. But inside the Toyota Center, Smith helped the Rockets make the former Gonzaga prospect a non-factor.
Houston held Holmgren to four points on 2 of 9 shooting and five rebounds. After the game, coach Ime Udoka said the key to stopping Holmgren was to take away his pick-and-pop options and advantages when attacking downhill.
"It's always fun competing against a really good player," Holmgren said. "And to be able to play against him [Smith] at the highest level is always a blessing. Obviously, I missed our battles last year. So, just to be able to play against him now, it's just a blessing."
Smith finished with six points. But due to the scoring output from his teammates, Smith felt he was able to turn his focus to the defensive end. Dillon Brooks led the Rockets with 23 points in the win, while Alperen Şengün added 21 points on 8 of 13 shooting, seven assists and six rebounds.
A career night for Aaron Holiday
The Rockets had several players who contributed to their ninth victory of the season. However, Aaron Holiday’s career performance was most impressive.
"I think I am a pretty good shooter," Holiday said. "Every shot I shoot, I think it's going in. Sometimes it just doesn't, that's the way it goes. For the most part, I think they are going in."
Holiday came off the bench and scored a career-high 22 points on 8 of 13 shooting. He played a significant role in Houston's 3-point shooting by accounting for six of the team’s 15 made triples. They finished the night shooting 45.5 percent from behind the arc. Holiday also recorded four assists without a turnover.
Since the loss of Amen Thompson, Holiday has filled the vacancy as Houston's backup point guard. His performance against the Thunder displayed his value. However, Holiday's play demonstrated why Udoka pursued the veteran guard during free agency.
Udoka described Holiday's contributions as "huge." And with Thompson returning soon from a Grade 2 ankle sprain, Holiday has played his way into a prominent reserve role.
Holiday's readiness and professionalism led to Udoka's decision to add him to the roster. The most significant selling point was his defensive tenacities that fit Udoka's coaching scheme.
"All those things we factored into why we wanted him here," Udoka said. "Unfortunate that Amen goes down. But you obviously have a great piece there that's ready to play and [we've] seen what he's done."
Rockets extend home winning streak but...
The Rockets extended their home winning streak to nine by defeating the Thunder. It's an impressive streak, but the Rockets' top objective moving forward is to record a victory away from the Toyota Center.
Houston is the only team in the league without a road win after dropping eight consecutive games. The Rockets will have a chance to end their streak Friday night in a road match against the Denver Nuggets.
"We did our job," Holiday said. "We protected homecourt. That is something we are trying to do all season. Protect homecourt, and obviously, we have to start getting wins on the road."
