140: 127! The Rockets have won 2 games in a row, and all the new five Tigers are perfect. This is what the fans want.

At 8 a.m. on October 9, 2025, the Rockets played the Jazz at home. This was their second preseason game. Durant finally returned, and coach Uduka sent a new starting lineup: Shepard, Amen Thompson, Durant, Jabari Smith and Shen Jing. As a result, these five people did not disappoint. The fight was so enjoyable that the fans enjoyed watching it. After the last four quarters, the Rockets defeated the Jazz 140 to 127, winning two consecutive preseason games. The five starters all played extremely well. This is what the fans want to see!

First, the game process: The Rockets suppressed the Jazz all the way, and it was refreshing to watch.

At the beginning of the game, the Jazz showed a good state. Hendricks hit a mid-range shot and Smith responded with a three-pointer. However, the Rockets fell into a scoring drought and the Jazz launched a 9-0 offensive to lead 11-3. At the critical moment, Amen scored 4 points in a row with a layup and counterattack dunk. Durant also scored the first point of the Rockets career. The Rockets responded with a 6-0 wave to chase the score to 9-13. After that, the two sides went back and forth. At the end of the first quarter, the Rockets trailed 23-25. In the second quarter of the game, Durant scored 4 points in a row with strong attacks and free throws. Capela also succeeded in an air cut and dunk. The Rockets went ahead 34-30. Amen Thompson continued to work hard, and the Rockets once led 43-35 by 8 points. But the Jazz responded quickly, and the two sides fell into a tug-of-war. Before halftime, the Rockets broke out from the outside and launched a 10-0 attack wave, leading 67-61 into the second half.

In the second half of the game, the Rockets continued to maintain their advantage and always controlled the rhythm of the game. Although the Jazz struggled to catch up, they failed to achieve a lead. Jazz rookie Ace Bailey suddenly showed off his power and scored 15 points in a single quarter, almost regaining the point difference. At this time, the Rockets' starters stepped up again. Shepard stole and scored a key three-pointer; Amen Thompson ignited the whole game with a dunk and finally stabilized the situation. In addition, Durant made 4 of 4 in the third quarter and scored 12 points. After three quarters, the Rockets led 107-101. The Rockets had some substitutes in the fourth quarter, but they were still very strong. No matter how hard the Jazz chased, it was useless. The Rockets relied on the advantages they had accumulated in the past and their steady play to maintain their lead until the end. In the end, they won 140-127, winning two consecutive preseason games.

2. Player performance: The starting five all have their own unique skills and they all played well.

Durant was solid in his first game back. He played 23 minutes and scored 20 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal on 8-of-14 shooting. His containment and key ball ability on the offensive end have given the Rockets reassurance, and he has meshed well with the team.

Shen Jing had a near triple-double, with 13 points, 5 rebounds, 13 assists and 4 steals. The 13 assists set a new high in the preseason, clearly sorting out the team's offense, and the pick-and-roll with Durant made the Jazz lose their temper.

Amen Thompson is very strong offensively and defensively, with 19 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals and 1 block. He can attack and defend on the court, allowing fans to see the future of the Rockets' backcourt. Every breakthrough and defense can make the home fans excited.

Jabari Smith shot from the outside, scoring 18 points and 3 rebounds on 3 of 5 three-pointers. His stable shooting opened up space for the Rockets, making opponents afraid to let him go easily.

Shepard was the most surprising in this game, with 11 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks. Whether it's his scrambling on defense or his decisive shots on offense, you can see that he has made great progress, giving the Rockets defenders more strength.

Third, the performance of these Rockets substitute players. Although they were not the protagonists on the court, they also contributed to the team's victory in a limited time.

Holiday is the leading scorer on the bench. He played 18 minutes, made 4 of 8 shots, 3 of 6 three-pointers, and scored 11 points and 2 rebounds. His outside shooting is very accurate and he is an important firepower on the Rockets bench. Jeff Green played 12 minutes and made 2 of 6 shots, but his free throws were very stable. He made all 6 free throws and scored a total of 10 points and 3 rebounds. Although he didn't open a three-pointer, he still scored in double digits by relying on free throws. Ethan played 18 minutes, made 2 of 7 shots, and scored 8 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists. His scoring efficiency is average, but his three assists reflect his organizational awareness on the offensive end. Davidson also scored 8 points like Ethan, and also had 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block. In his 17 minutes of playing time, he contributed on both offense and defense, and his performance was relatively comprehensive. Capela played 17 minutes, made 3 of 8 shots, and scored 8 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists. The 7 rebounds were the most among the substitutes, which protected the Rockets' interior well. Okogie is very efficient. He only played 12 minutes, made all 3 shots, and efficiently scored 7 points and 4 rebounds. He was a little surprise on the bench.

Others like Harris, Crawford and Matthews also got opportunities to play. Although they did not score much, they all scored data and completed the tasks assigned by the coach. Although the Rockets' bench was not particularly explosive in scoring, they completed the rotation tasks well, won valuable rest time for the starting players, and maintained the team's advantage on the court. This was a very comprehensive victory.

This game is not only a win, but more importantly, the Rockets' new lineup has adjusted well. Coach Uduka's starting lineup matches well in terms of height, technique and tactical coordination. The arrival of Durant has raised the team's upper limit, and the growth of Shen Jing and Amen Thompson has given the team hope for the future. The preseason will continue, and the Rockets must continue to hone their tactics so that the players can have a better understanding. For fans, it is really happy to see such a lineup that can attack, defend and coordinate smoothly. For the Rockets, 2 consecutive wins is just the beginning. They will definitely use this confidence to rush towards better results in the new season.