Durant Accelerates Jabari Smith Jr.’s Growth: “He’s Going to Be a Key Piece”

The Houston Rockets are learning how to win games that, not long ago, would have slipped away. The 126-119 victory over the Indiana Pacers didn’t come with perfect late-game execution, but it did show a new clarity in offensive hierarchy.

Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. took control of the game in the simplest way possible: by selecting the right shots and imposing their physicality.

Durant finished with 30 points, steering the offense whenever the momentum threatened to swing. Smith Jr. complemented him with one of the most complete performances of his season: a double-double, a constant presence around the rim, and confidence from beyond the arc.

Together they scored 51 points on 21-of-36 shooting, adding 16 rebounds and 7 assists – numbers that speak more to efficiency than volume.

We’re going to need that moving forward. Bari and I have talked a lot about getting to the shots we want to take, not letting the defense dictate what we do on the floor, and using our length and our size to get those looks. Bari was really hard to stop on the low block, he knocked down those threes and did everything for us. So we’re going to need that from him.

Kevin Durant

The most interesting aspect, though, lies in the dialogue between the two. Durant isn’t just producing – he’s accelerating Smith Jr.’s growth. His postgame comments make the direction clear: don’t react to the defense, use length and size to create advantages, and take responsibility. These are key concepts he’s also passing on to other young players like Reed Sheppard. Smith Jr. has responded with more decisive post play and the ability to punish defensive rotations from the perimeter.

Houston now sits on a three-game winning streak, a meaningful detail at a time when the team is building a clear identity. If Smith Jr. continues on this path and Durant remains the technical and emotional anchor, this stretch of the season could mark a genuine turning point.