Houston has nine clear rotation players to begin its 2026-27 NBA season.
Between Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Fred VanVleet, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, Reed Sheppard, Steven Adams, and Marcus Smart, the Rockets — assuming health — feel good about the ability of those nine players to compete against any other team.
But veteran sharpshooter Bogdan Bogdanovic, who joined the Rockets in the 2026 offseason, might force head coach Ime Udoka to consider playing 10.
Bogdanovic, 34, scored a team-high 15 points in Thursday’s 116-89 preseason victory (box score) over the Oklahoma City Thunder while connecting on 5-of-8 shots from 3-point range (62.5%).
Between the added floor spacing and his off-ball movement, Thursday’s showing by Bogdanovic could give Udoka something to think about leading up to next Wednesday’s regular-season opener versus Dallas.
Other standouts from Thursday’s exhibition included:
- Alperen Sengun: 14 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks in 24 minutes; 7-of-11 shooting (63.6%)
- Amen Thompson: 12 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists in 22 minutes; 6-of-13 shooting (46.2%)
Kevin Durant: 11 points in 16 minutes; 4-of-10 shooting (40.0%)
Tari Eason: 12 points, 3 rebounds in 17 minutes: 5-of-7 shooting (71.4%), 2-of-2 on 3-pointers
Reed Sheppard: 11 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists in 16 minutes; 4-of-9 shooting (44.4%), 3-of-8 on 3-pointers (37.5%)
Jalen Williams (Thunder): 18 points, 7 rebounds in 25 minutes; 7-of-14 shooting (50.0%), 2-of-5 on 3-pointers (40.0%)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder): 17 points, 3 assists, -24 in 26 minutes; 5-of-12 shooting (41.7%), 2-of-5 on 3-pointers (40.0%)
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Alperen Sengun: 14 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks in 24 minutes; 7-of-11 shooting (63.6%)
Amen Thompson: 12 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists in 22 minutes; 6-of-13 shooting (46.2%)
Kevin Durant: 11 points in 16 minutes; 4-of-10 shooting (40.0%)
Tari Eason: 12 points, 3 rebounds in 17 minutes: 5-of-7 shooting (71.4%), 2-of-2 on 3-pointers
Reed Sheppard: 11 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists in 16 minutes; 4-of-9 shooting (44.4%), 3-of-8 on 3-pointers (37.5%)
Jalen Williams (Thunder): 18 points, 7 rebounds in 25 minutes; 7-of-14 shooting (50.0%), 2-of-5 on 3-pointers (40.0%)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder): 17 points, 3 assists, -24 in 26 minutes; 5-of-12 shooting (41.7%), 2-of-5 on 3-pointers (40.0%)
Oklahoma City completed its preseason schedule at 1-4, while the Rockets finished at 2-1. Highlights of Thursday’s exhibition are available below.
Next up for both teams is the 2026-27 regular season, which begins on Tuesday for the Thunder (in San Antonio) and on Wednesday for the Rockets (in Houston).
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