The Houston Rockets have shot themselves against the Shanghai Sharks around Jimmer Fredette. Especially James Harden proves an amazing early form. Dennis Schröder is less convincing this time, but the Oklahoma City Thunder still win after extra time.
Nice warm shooting for the Rockets, which did not leave the guests from China the breath of a chance. Especially James Harden was really up for it and presented himself again in his best MVP form. In 30 minutes, the bearded man scored 37 points and 9 assists. The Guard sunk nine of his 14 triads, including a patented hard stepback triple from the dribble into the defender’s face.
Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni nevertheless presented another short rotation of only ten players, with Carmelo Anthony taking a break this time. As a team, the Rockets nevertheless fired from all pipes and hit a record 28 threesomes (66 attempts, 42.5 percent). P.J. Tucker (22) also met 6 triples, while Chris Paul was content with 9 counters each (3/8 FG) and assists. Isaiah Hartenstein was missing again because of ankle problems.
Shanghai meanwhile competed in Jimmer Fredette and Luis Scola with two former NBA players. Especially sniper Fredette wanted to recommend himself. The former lottery pick from 2011 played the full 48 minutes and came to 41 points (16/40 FG) and 9 rebounds. Scola held back a little more, but also scattered 18 points and 12 boards.
Extension in the preseason? It can happen before. Tim Frazier sent the game into overtime for the Bucks with a threesome a second before the end, where the Thunder got the upper hand. The good two-way player Deonte Burton (16, 6/11 FG) decided the game for OKC with a threesome.
As you can already see from the name, both coaches this time increasingly relied on reservists. Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer gave several (potential) starters (Eric Bledsoe, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ersan Ilyasova, Brook Lopez, Khris Middleton) a break. In their absence, Forward Christian Wood (19, 15 rebounds) was best bucks scorer, even Tyler Zeller had to please with 17 points.
The Thunder, on the other hand, were at least in the first half with the current best line-up. But for Dennis Schröder it was not necessarily optimal. The German came in 17 minutes to 8 points and only 1 assist, but struggled mainly with his throw. Only two of the ten attempts found their way into the basket. Paul George, on the other hand, was the top scorer with 26 points (8/13 FG). Nerlens Noel also received a lot of playing time with 7 points, 14 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks.
The Clippers remain undefeated in the preseason and could even afford to do without two starters, Tobias Harris and Marcin Gortat. Six Clippers players scored double-digit, with Danilo Gallinari already the best with 16 points. On Center the Doc Rivers team started with Boban Marjanovic, who in 15 minutes put an impressive 14 points, 12 boards and 3 blocks on the statistics sheet.
Rookie Shai Gilgeous-Alexander started with 5 points (2/7 FG) and 4 rebounds. The other newbie, Jerome Robinson (12), however, could score three transformed long balls for himself.
Mike Malone let his Starting Five play through the first twelve minutes completely on the nuggets side, after which they were off work. Will Barton scored 11 points during this period. Of the reservists, backup playmaker Monte Morris was again able to advertise for himself and scored 14 points and 6 assists. Topscorer was Trey Lyles, who had a solid double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.