Jabari Smith Jr. Leads Rockets To Playoff Upset Over Nuggets
Jabari Smith Jr. Leads Rockets To Playoff Upset Over Nuggets...
Jabari Smith Jr. delivered a career-high 38 points Wednesday night, powering the Houston Rockets to a stunning 112-108 Game 2 victory over the defending champion Denver Nuggets. The 22-year-old forward shot 14-of-20 from the field, including 6 three-pointers, to even the first-round playoff series at 1-1.
The breakout performance has made Smith the top trending NBA topic Thursday morning, with #JabariParty trending nationally on Twitter. Fans and analysts are praising his clutch fourth-quarter plays, including a crucial step-back three over two-time MVP Nikola Jokić with 1:12 remaining.
Smith's emergence comes at a critical moment for the Rockets, who hadn't won a playoff game since 2020 before Wednesday's victory. The 2022 No. 3 overall pick had previously struggled with consistency, making this performance particularly noteworthy. His 38 points shattered his previous career high of 31 set earlier this season.
Denver coach Michael Malone called Smith "the difference maker" in his postgame press conference. The Nuggets had no answer for Smith's combination of size (6'10") and perimeter shooting, especially when paired with Alperen Şengün's interior presence.
The series now shifts to Houston for Games 3 and 4 this weekend. Ticket prices for Saturday's matchup at Toyota Center have surged 47% overnight according to TickPick, reflecting newfound optimism among Rockets fans. Smith's jersey sales ranked #3 leaguewide on NBAStore.com as of Thursday morning.
This marks a full-circle moment for Smith, who faced criticism during his rookie year for shooting struggles. His 42.9% three-point shooting this postseason currently leads all players with at least 20 attempts. The Auburn product credited offseason work with shooting coach John Lucas for his improved confidence.
NBA analysts note Smith's performance could reshape the Western Conference playoff picture. The Rockets were considered heavy underdogs against the top-seeded Nuggets, but now have home-court advantage in the best-of-seven series. Game 3 tips off Saturday at 7:30 PM CT on ESPN.
