The Houston Rockets finished out the preseason today at 4-0 after a 133-115 win over the Atlanta Hawks in what began as a nailbiter in Atlanta. Coach Ime Udoka tested the bench unit’s chemistry and kept the core six on the sideline to observe. 

The Rockets went to war with the Pelicans on Tuesday in a wild face-off. Houston ultimately took the victory, but only by two points. Much of the reason New Orleans was able to come back was due to a lack of defensive strength from Houston’s bench unit. 

Before tip off tonight, per FanDuel Sportsbook, the Rockets were favored -260 with the Hawks’ winning odds at +168, the spread was -7.5 and the over/under set at 232.5. Atlanta had the home-court advantage and established player chemistry, while Houston is still finding its rhythm with a fresh roster. 

For the first half, the Rockets and Hawks stayed neck-and-neck, trading leads by only a few points. Houston entered the third quarter trailing Atlanta by one point (61-60). A half was all Houston needed to find holes in Atlanta’s defense, which struggled to cover the perimeter, allowing the Rockets to drain three after three in the second half. Houston quickly pulled ahead in the third and rode that momentum and finished the game with a commanding second half surge. 

Reed Sheppard looked like he did a lot of work to improve his upper-body strength over the summer, and it showed in his defense. When asked what changed for him since last season, Sheppard said, “The biggest thing is just confidence.” When asked what he was most confident about, he said, “Really all of it.” It showed- he led the team, dropping 29 points overall, 18 of them in the first half. 

Josh Okogie also stood out, posting 28 points and shining in the paint on both ends. The highlight of the night came in the fourth quarter when JD Davison threw down an insane one-handed dunk. The energy in the stadium exploded, and the entire bench jumped to its feet.

The defensive performance from the Rockets’ bench unit left some to be desired against the Pelicans on Tuesday, but Houston stayed tight and in control tonight, forcing 21 turnovers. The Rockets’ defense wasn’t perfect, but it proved Udoka’s defense-first strategy is starting to click.

Houston closed the preseason at 4-0. The team’s overall performance suggests a smooth transition and consistency into the regular season. Tonight, the bench proved they can compete even without any of the big 6 holding its hands. 

Sheppard showed drastic improvement over his performance last year and showed he isn’t just an efficient shooter, but a budding leader. Sheppard and Okogie could form a strong duo, with Okogie anchoring the younger guard. There’s no doubt after tonight’s victory over the Hawks, Udoka will have a tougher time making rotation decisions in the regular season.