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Danielle Lerner @danielle-lerner.bsky.social · 15h

Will Amen Thompson have a breakout season? NBA GMs think so.

More Rockets predictions from the league's annual general managers survey: www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rocke...

Here's what NBA general managers really think about the Rockets

In NBA's annual survey, general managers were high on Houston's Amen Thompson and Kevin Durant but less sure of Rockets' overall potential

www.houstonchronicle.com

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Danielle Lerner @danielle-lerner.bsky.social · 1d

Kevin Durant looked right at home in his Rockets debut, scoring a team-high 20 points in a preseason win over the Jazz.

“It felt normal,” he said.

On Houston’s new normal: www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rocke...

'It just felt normal.' How Kevin Durant fared in Rockets' debut in win over Jazz

Kevin Durant scores 20 points in his first game with the Rockets and shows how smoothly he fits with new team.

www.houstonchronicle.com

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Danielle Lerner @danielle-lerner.bsky.social · 1d

Rockets are 2-0 in preseason after beating the Jazz, 140-127, in Kevin Durant's debut.

The Rockets finish preseason on the road with two games next week against the Pelicans (in Birmingham) and Hawks.

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Danielle Lerner @danielle-lerner.bsky.social · 1d

Reed Sheppard is still out there (he's played 24 min), but I'd assume the rest of the Rockets starters are done for the night.

In his Rockets debut, Kevin Durant scored 20 points in 23 minutes on 7-of-10 shooting (5-5 FT), with two rebounds and one assist.

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Danielle Lerner @danielle-lerner.bsky.social · 1d

Two minutes into the second half, after a pair of quarterback passes, Alperen Sengun has a double-double (11 points, 11 assists).

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Danielle Lerner @danielle-lerner.bsky.social · 1d

HALFTIME: Rockets 67, Jazz 61. Amen Thompson has been a monster in transition with game-highs of 19 points (9-of-13 FG) and 6 rebounds. Kevin Durant has 8 points on 3-of-6 FG in 15 minutes.

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Danielle Lerner @danielle-lerner.bsky.social · 1d

Kevin Durant has made use of a couple good screens from Alperen Sengun tonight. That will be an important partnership for the Rockets this season.

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Danielle Lerner @danielle-lerner.bsky.social · 1d

The Rockets trail the Jazz 25-23 after the first quarter, pretty good considering a disjointed halfcourt offense. Houston's starting lineup was outscored 13-9 and hampered by early turnovers.

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Danielle Lerner @danielle-lerner.bsky.social · 1d

Rockets holding a moment of silence for stats crew member Robert Copley, who died earlier this week.

More on Robert, who worked for the Rockets since 1981: www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports...

Meet the man who can stop time, Rockets' clock operator Robert Copley

Robert Copley has been operating the clock at Rockets games for 43 seasons and is the...

www.houstonchronicle.com

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Danielle Lerner @danielle-lerner.bsky.social · 1d

With Kevin Durant now in the lineup, Ime Udoka said he doesn’t have a desired hierarchy in mind for the Rockets’ shot frequency.

He did say that he planned for Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun and Reed Sheppard to increase their usage this season so it’ll be about finding balance.

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Danielle Lerner @danielle-lerner.bsky.social · 1d

Reed Sheppard will start for the Rockets tonight along with Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Şengün.

Tari Eason will be available tonight. Steven Adams out.

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Danielle Lerner @danielle-lerner.bsky.social · 1d

Rockets guards Reed Sheppard and Amen Thompson warming up ahead of preseason game 2 vs. the Utah Jazz. We’ll find out shortly whether Sheppard will start again tonight.

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Danielle Lerner @danielle-lerner.bsky.social · 1d

www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/dynam...

Ted Segal in talks to sell Houston Dash to RHC Group for $120M, report says

Ted Segal is reportedly in advanced talks to sell the Houston Dash to a group run by a 24-year-old.

www.houstonchronicle.com

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Danielle Lerner @danielle-lerner.bsky.social · 2d

Per Ime Udoka: Steven Adams will be out for the Rockets on Wednesday. Tari Eason is a maybe (depending how his body feels). Udoka expects everyone else to be available.

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Danielle Lerner @danielle-lerner.bsky.social · 2d

Good vibes at the practice after the first preseason win. Kevin Durant will debut on Wednesday vs Utah.

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Danielle Lerner @danielle-lerner.bsky.social · 3d

Early thoughts on the Rockets’ point guard situation, synergy in the double-big lineup and Jabari Smith Jr.’s ball handling: www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rocke...

The Rockets won their first preseason game. Here's what we learned

Kevin Durant watched from the bench as his new team showed how it will play without Fred VanVleet in preseason win over Atlanta

www.houstonchronicle.com

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Danielle Lerner @danielle-lerner.bsky.social · 3d

Rockets win their preseason opener against the Hawks. Starters were all sitting by the end of the third quarter.

More takeaways to come in my story, but thought Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Sengun were terrific. Rockets' offense also ran smoothly through multiple initiators.

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Danielle Lerner @danielle-lerner.bsky.social · 3d

FYI there seem to be some issues with the stats feed here at Toyota Center, so not sure we'll have a reliable box score (not that it matters that much for preseason).

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Danielle Lerner @danielle-lerner.bsky.social · 3d

Nice connection between Sengun and Capela there resulting in a Capela dunk. Clint was excited to play alongside Alpi when we spoke earlier this week, and I can see why. Rockets' offense with double bigs has looked great. www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rocke...

Back with the Rockets after 5 years away, Clint Capela wants to rule West again

Five years after leaving via trade, Clint Capela returns to Houston as the Rockets are Western Conference contenders again.

www.houstonchronicle.com

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Danielle Lerner @danielle-lerner.bsky.social · 3d

Longtime Rockets clock operator Robert Copley passed away yesterday.

Robert was the sweetest soul. I loved getting to know him for this piece in 2022. At every game since, Robert always said hello to me and joked about our shared love of a halftime cookie. www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports...

Meet the man who can stop time, Rockets' clock operator Robert Copley

Robert Copley has been operating the clock at Rockets games for 43 seasons and is the...

www.houstonchronicle.com

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Danielle Lerner @danielle-lerner.bsky.social · 3d

Rockets go to their double-big pairing in the first quarter but I can't imagine this is the optimal lineup they want out there: Holiday, Davison, Okogie, Şengün, Adams.

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Danielle Lerner @danielle-lerner.bsky.social · 3d

Kevin Durant received a nice ovation from the crowd during a timeout after a video of him played on the big screen, which then switched to a live feed showing Durant on the bench.

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Danielle Lerner @danielle-lerner.bsky.social · 3d

Available never meant they would play. I also reported that Udoka said the main rotation guys would only play in one of the first two games, but it wasn't decided until today.

It is extremely common for teams not to play stars in preseason (see: Lakers with LeBron and Luka).

Rob Dover @boredtrevor.bsky.social · 3d

Any idea why? I know you previously reported that everyone except DFS would be available tonight - is it a late breaking injury kind of thing?

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Danielle Lerner @danielle-lerner.bsky.social · 3d

KD not playing tonight but still getting reps in pregame

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Danielle Lerner @danielle-lerner.bsky.social · 3d

Asked Ime Udoka what he wants to see from Reed Sheppard tonight.

"More of what he's done in the offseason and at times last year. Confident, aggressive on both ends, hunting his shots, making the right reads in pick-and-rolls, and him and Amen kind of manning the point guard together."

Danielle Lerner @danielle-lerner.bsky.social · 3d

Reed Sheppard will start for the Rockets tonight alongside Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Sengun.

Kevin Durant will not play tonight, per Ime Udoka.

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