HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 26: Alperen Sengun #28 of the Houston Rockets works against Onyeka Okongwu #17 of the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at Toyota Center on October 26, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images Xian E Tue, October 27, 2026 at 5:19 AM UTC · 5 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the second time the Rockets have faced the Atlanta Hawks in the past three days. It's almost certainly the last time the Rockets will face the Atlanta Hawks this season, barring a Final of some sort – NBA, or NBA Cup. I'm not sure I love these quick turnaround home and home series, as you don't really get to see the evolution of a team throughout the season. What you do get to see is a team make adjustments from the last game, at least some. Normally such adjustments, or even planning for them, wouldn't much matter to teams from opposite conferences, as by the time they made it to their second game, the information might not be terribly relevant.
This was not the case tonight and we did see some shifts and the game didn't go exactly as the last one. For one, Fred VanVleet was back, and ready to play (though Steven Adams and Marcus Smart remained out with injuries).
Both teams had also gotten a bit of rest since the last game, where both teams were on the second night of a back to back. Would this mean more energy in the game? Better shooting from the Hawks? Better shooting from the Rockets? Actually, no. At least not 3pt shooting. The Hawks shot a pretty dismal 28% from three point range on 39 attempts. The Rockets weren't much better at 30% on 27 attempts. Rebounds, though, significantly favored the Rockets, instead of being a dead heat. The Rockets outrebounded the Hawks 52-35, although offense rebounds very slightly favored Atlanta.
Well, perhaps the Rockets won the turnover battle? Not even close. The Rockets turned the ball over a fairly ghastly 25 times to the Hawks 13. Ok, but the Rockets won the game, how on earth did they do it? By being better at two point shooting, and getting to the rim. They also had a 10 free throw advantage, which might well have been produced by shooting fewer threes, and attacking inside more. Even so, Atlanta shot the ball 98 times to the Rockets 81, that is, they played at a faster pace. You wouldn't really expect to win such a game going away, except the Rockets did.
First, they shot 53% overall to Atlanta's 42%, and they made 26FTs out 0f 32, compared to 15 out of 21 for Atlanta.
The Rockets also had their team MVP of less than 5% of the season so far having a splendid game. That's right Alperen Sengun had 29pts on 11-15 shooting, 6-8 FT, and 1-1 from 3pt range. He added 9rbs, 9ast, 6stl, and sadly only 1blk, so no chance of a 5×5 game. Sadly he did have 6 turnovers, but the Rockets were, again, utterly generous with turnovers tonight, with no one but the usual suspects Fred VanVleet, Reed Sheppard, and of course, Jabari Smith posting clean assist to turnover numbers. Steady Freddy didn't just get his first turnover of the season, he got his second tonight, he was 5ast/2TO, which would be good for other guards, but not tidy enough for Fred.
Reed Sheppard provided a real spark off the bench, despite not have the same shooting night he did in Atlanta. He still scored 13pts in 24 minutes, and added 4ast to 1TO, along with 2stl. Tonight Sheppard's impact was being a menace on defense, passing it well, and attacking close outs to score at the rim. He also had a fast break two handed slam off a steal. Ime even smiled and embraced Reed, after one particularly fine stretch of play tonight. It was both heartening, and slightly alarming. It feels like we're in new territory here.
Jabari Smith had 16pts on 6-13 shooting, 2-6 3pt, 12rbs, 5ast to 1TO, 1stl, 1blk. I'll say it again, I think he's having a break out season. His attacks were decisive, his passes came quickly, (and with one amusing exception of a full court hit ahead to Sengun that somehow worked despite being a duck,) were also on target.
Amen Thompson had something of a blah game for him, and only played 28 minutes. So, too, with Kevin Durant, who only played 30 minutes, and was not in the closing lineup.
Tari Eason had one of his "magic wand" games where he was at times the best player on the floor. He went 13pts/9rbs/2ast/1To/3blk.
The Rockets had long periods of slow, ineffective offense, of turnovers leading to easy Hawks points, and moments of brilliance where they scored, and shut Atlanta down. We are beginning to see the rudiments of actual, consistent offensive structure, and real plays. When the Rockets combine this with early clock attacks, they are very hard to stop so far this season.
There might be some complaints that the Hawks narrowed the Rockets lead late both games. The first time it felt slightly worrisome, tonight it didn't, for what that's worth. What's more important, in a very swingy NBA, where we have already seen at 30 plus point late comeback, the cushion of the Rockets leads have declined but were never lost. That's a good, if not the best possible, sigh.
The Rockets are 4-0, and you can't ask for better than that.
Onward to the 1-3 Bucks in Milwaukee (possible WS champs by then) on Wednesday.
Source: Sports
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