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 to propel the Houston Rockets to a stunning 112-108 Game 4 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Monday night. The 21-year-old forward's dominant performance tied the first-round playoff series at 2-2, reigniting Houston's postseason hopes.
The breakout game comes exactly four years after Smith was drafted third overall in the 2022 NBA Draft. His clutch shooting down the stretch - including three critical fourth-quarter three-pointers - has made him the top trending basketball topic nationwide Tuesday morning.
Fans flooded social media with highlights of Smith's poster dunk over two-time MVP Nikola Jokic in the third quarter. The play sparked a 12-2 Rockets run that shifted momentum in the Toyota Center showdown. Houston had lost 11 straight playoff games before this series.
"He's been waiting for this moment since we drafted him," Rockets coach Ime Udoka told reporters postgame. Smith's 38 points shattered his previous career high of 31 set earlier this season against the Lakers.
The victory marks Houston's first home playoff win since 2019. Game 5 shifts back to Denver on Wednesday night, where the Nuggets had won 14 straight before dropping Game 2. Sportsbooks immediately adjusted the series odds, with BetMGM now listing Houston at +180 to advance.
Smith's emergence comes at a pivotal time for the rebuilding Rockets franchise. After missing the playoffs for three straight seasons, their young core of Smith, Jalen Green and Alperen Şengün appears ready to contend. League executives are taking notice of Smith's two-way development after he averaged 19.4 points during the regular season.
The Auburn product credited his offseason work with shooting coach John Lucas for his improved consistency. "When you put in the work, the game rewards you," Smith said in his postgame interview. His 7-of-11 three-point shooting Monday night validated that preparation.
With the series now effectively a best-of-three, all eyes turn to how Denver will adjust their defensive schemes. Nuggets coach Michael Malone acknowledged they "have no answer right now" for Smith's perimeter shooting. The chess match continues Wednesday at Ball Arena (9:30 PM ET, TNT).
