Sheppard's Knee, Eason's Ejection and a 62-Win Spurs Team…

By the Rockets Nightly Desk · Friday, October 23

Reed Sheppard went on the injury report on Oct. 22 with a left knee issue, joining Steven Adams, and both are listed to return on Oct. 23. The 1-0 Rockets visit a Spurs team that won 62 games last season and lost its opener.

Rockets Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Last season

Houston went 52-30 with a 5.4 net rating and played at a pace of 97.0. San Antonio finished 62-20 with an 8.4 net rating and played at 100.7, nearly four possessions per game faster. Victor Wembanyama averaged 25.0 points and 11.5 boards in 29.2 minutes. Sheppard played all 82 games and shot 39.4 on threes, so his knee matters for the second unit.

Oct. 21

Dallas was beaten before halftime. A 14-0 run late in the second quarter made it 65-36, Houston led 70-38 at the break, and the lead peaked at 37 in a 128-110 win. The starters scored 105. The bench scored 18, and Marcus Smart had 10 of them on 4-of-6 shooting. ESPN reported that Tari Eason was ejected for shoving P.J. Washington in the back.

Oct. 22

Sheppard was added to the report with a left knee issue after playing 16 minutes in the opener and finishing minus-5, the worst mark on the team. Adams, who was listed out for the opener with a right calf problem, was upgraded the same day. The Athletic built its recap around what it called a new, fast-paced identity for Houston, led by Kevin Durant and Fred VanVleet.

Oct. 23

The Rockets play tonight in San Antonio. The Spurs are short-handed: Tobias Harris (left calf) and Jayden Quaintance (right knee) are out, De'Aaron Fox is listed with an injured right wrist, and Keldon Johnson with a mouth injury. The open question: if Sheppard sits, who covers his minutes behind VanVleet, and can Houston keep up with a team that played faster all last season?

Next Houston plays at Atlanta on Oct. 24, the second of two straight road nights, then hosts the Hawks on Oct. 26.

Is Reed Sheppard playing against the Spurs?

Sheppard is listed with a left knee issue and a return date of Oct. 23, the day of the game. His status should become clear on the pregame report.

Why was Tari Eason ejected against the Mavericks?

ESPN reported that Eason was ejected for shoving P.J. Washington in the back during Houston's 128-110 opening win.

By the Rockets Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.