1. Marcus Smart, who joined the Rockets this summer, made his team debut in Game 2 of the China Tournament. He played 23 minutes and 38 seconds, shooting 7 of 13 from the field, 4 of 9 from three, and 2 of 3 from the free-throw line, scoring a game-high 20 points, along with 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block, with a plus-minus of +4. Head coach Udoka said after the game that Smart's experience is invaluable to the team and praised his leadership on both ends of the court. According to Yahoo Sports reporter Damien Peters, Smart will take on some point guard duties this season, and his ball-handling and playmaking skills will be a huge plus for the Rockets.
2. According to Yahoo Sports reporter Damien Peters, if all goes well, Durant is very eager to represent the USA men's basketball team at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, which will be his fifth Olympic appearance. He did not manage his load last season, playing 78 regular season games and averaging 26 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game, but played only one playoff game due to injury, and the Rockets lost 2-4 to the Lakers in the first round. Durant expressed disappointment with last season's poor ending, but said these injuries were hard wounds caused by physical confrontation, not chronic muscle or soft tissue damage. He will continue to stick to the policy of not resting in the new season.
3. In the previous game against the Mavericks, Jabari Smith Jr. started and finished with 14 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists. His near-double-double performance supported the team's interior, scoring 8 points in the first quarter alone. Yahoo Sports reporter Damien Peters pointed out that Smith remains the Rockets' dominant factor in determining the ceiling on offense. The team is trying to create easier scoring opportunities for him through transition offense, three-point shooting, and post-up play when mismatched.
