Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. gave the Rockets exactly the kind of opening-night punch they wanted, and Houston rode that one-two scoring burst to a 128-110 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday at Toyota Center.
Durant was as sharp as ever, finishing with 30 points on 10-of-16 shooting to go with six rebounds and three assists. Smith matched him point for point, putting up 30 on 11-of-17 shooting and knocking down 4-of-8 from deep. He also added five rebounds and two steals, and he came up just four points short of his career high.
Smith’s efficiency stood out, and Durant had a little fun with it after the game. When asked in the postgame conference about Smith’s decision-making, Durant delivered a line that got the room laughing.
“His decision to go get 30. That was the most important thing,” said Durant in the video posted by Locked On Network's Jackson Gatlin, eliciting laughter in the media room.
Fans on X were quick to pile on the praise for Smith’s night, with plenty of optimism about what his performance could mean going forward.
“Jabari's been hooping like he got something to prove lately,” said @sofx83.
“Talk about efficient 🔥🎯 #allfire,” added @Htown_Aggie.
“KD and Bari 30-piece? We're going far this year,” declared @teekev8.
“I hope this is his year, man,” commented @TProfty.
“Gonna go down as the best player in 2022 class,” claimed @rocketsdon.
Asked Kevin Durant what he saw with Jabari Smith Jr.'s decision-making tonight:
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) October 22, 2026
"His decision to go get 30." pic.twitter.com/vx4wsDU90w
Smith’s size and versatility have always pointed to a big ceiling, even if he’s still learning how to use all of it consistently. He’s been trending in the right direction, though, and having Durant in the mix should only help him keep building into a more complete player.
Last season, Smith posted a career-high 15.8 points per game on 45% shooting and grabbed 6.9 rebounds across 77 games.
Houston’s next stop comes Friday against the San Antonio Spurs.
In Other News...
Rockets Already Face One Big Question About Going All In
The Rockets opened the season by beating the Mavericks with a starting five that looked every bit like a team ready to measure itself against the best in the West. Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Sengun gave Houston a blend of creation, size and scoring that already has the roster looking more serious than it did a year ago, which is exactly why the conversation around this group has moved from promise to urgency.
Zach Lowe pushed that point on his podcast, arguing Houston should at least be willing to think bigger if the goal is a championship run. He said the Rockets have the kind of assets that can matter in a star chase, with players such as Reed Sheppard and Tari Eason, plus draft picks, available if the front office decides the current core needs another jolt. The question now is whether Houston is ready to stay patient with what it has or start shopping for the kind of upgrade that changes a ceiling overnight. [Read more 🡒]
Rockets Passed A Clutch Test Against The Spurs In A Big Way
The Rockets got exactly the kind of late-game test that can reveal something about a young team, and they passed it in a tight 113-110 win over the Spurs. Alperen Sengun set the tone with 29 points, seven assists and seven rebounds, while Amen Thompson kept filling the box score with 20 points and 10 rebounds in a game that stayed close deep into the fourth quarter.
Kevin Durant also delivered in the biggest spots, finishing with 20 points and helping swing the finish Houstons way when the pressure ratcheted up. For a team that has been looking for proof it can execute when every possession matters, this was the sort of grind-it-out result that carries more weight than an ordinary regular-season win. [Read more 🡒]
Jabari Smith Jr. Just Gave Rockets Fans Another Reason To Believe
Jabari Smith Jr. gave the Rockets home crowd an early-season glimpse of what his next step could look like in Houstons 128-110 win over Dallas. He played with a level of confidence and offensive freedom that stood out from the opening night atmosphere, knocking down shots, finding his spots and looking far more comfortable as a go-to scorer than he often has in the past.
There was real reason for optimism in the way Smith carried himself, especially with Kevin Durant now in the mix as a veteran presence he can learn from every day. The Rockets do not need him to become a finished product overnight, but performances like this one reinforce why his development remains one of the most important storylines on the roster. [Read more 🡒]