Durant Debuts, Rockets Overwhelm Jazz 140-127 in Preseason Show

The Houston Rockets leaned into their offensive identity and debut chemistry in a 140-127 preseason victory over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night at Toyota Center.

Kevin Durant’s arrival made an immediate splash: in just 23 minutes, he poured in 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting and knocked down all 5 of his free throws. Though he committed three turnovers, the flashes of what he brings to Houston were evident early.

Alperen Şengün continued to impress, finishing with 13 points and 13 assists while also grabbing 5 rebounds and coring 4 steals in limited minutes. His court vision and ability to read the defense played a key role in setting the tone for the Rockets’ flow.

Amen Thompson added 19 points and 6 assists, showing that he can help shoulder playmaking duties in this revamped backcourt. Jabari Smith Jr. chipped in with strong perimeter contributions and spacing down the stretch. Reed Sheppard also handled point guard responsibilities capably, helping maintain tempo and balance with Fred VanVleet unavailable.

Despite the emphasis on star power, J.D. Davison remained a positive note off the bench. In limited minutes, he connected on a three and made smart cuts, while logging a +17 plus-minus that underscored his impact in those stretches.

Team stats painted a picture of Houston’s strengths and areas to polish. The Rockets won the rebound battle 47–35, including 19 offensive boards, and forced 20 points off Jazz turnovers. Houston shot 53.6% from the field and converted 23 of 30 free throws, though their 38.2% from three shows room for improvement. The Jazz, meanwhile, connected at a 56.2% clip overall and 44.4% from deep.

This outcome won’t count in the standings, but it serves as another encouraging step for Houston’s roster, especially with Durant joining the mix. Şengün’s dual-threat playmaking, Davison’s energy, and the emerging guard rotation all suggest the Rockets may be better equipped for the upcoming season than many anticipated.