Jabari

Smith

Smith did his best to shoulder a heavier workload in the aftermath of Kevin Durant’s ankle injury, but the fourth-year forward’s efficiency slipped against the Lakers. Shooting 3-of-11 from the field in Game 6, Smith had just one game in which he shot 50 percent or better from the field. He did grab 12 rebounds on Friday, recording his second double-double of the series, but this was a disappointing end to the 2025-26 season. Regarding Smith’s fantasy prospects for next season, he has top-100 potential, but the ceiling is somewhat limited with Kevin Durant in the fold.

No team has ever won a best-of-7 series after losing the first three games, but the Rockets are halfway to making history. After shooting 4-of-15 from the field in Game 4, Smith was better in Game 5. The 6-foot-10 forward led the Rockets in scoring on Wednesday, shooting 4-of-9 from beyond the arc, and his stat line lacked only a steal. The series returns to Houston for Game 6 on Friday, and the Rockets should feel confident about their chances of forcing a Game 7.

Smith finished Saturday’s defeat with playoff career-highs in points and rebounds, recording his first postseason double-double. He shot 3-of-9 from beyond the arc in Game 1, with the percentage being a few points lower than his mark during the regular season (36.3 percent). Smith is one of many Rockets who benefit from Kevin Durant’s presence on the floor; the veteran scorer did not play on Saturday due to a right knee contusion. If Durant can return for Tuesday’s Game 2, it would be unsurprising if Smith offered a more efficient stat line.

The Rockets don’t have playoff seeding to play for, as Friday’s loss to the Timberwolves locked them into the No. 5 seed in the West. Thompson and Smith will get Sunday night off, which should mean more playing time for Aaron Holiday and Jae’Sean Tate.

Smith couldn’t find his rhythm from beyond the arc but still managed to hover around the 20-point mark on Thursday. His scoring came from the charity stripe and mostly inside the paint. The fourth-year forward has played his role well this year and continues to put up some of his best numbers alongside Kevin Durant as a full-time starter. With two games left on the schedule, the Rockets have a chance to extend their eight-game winning streak while trying to land homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

For the second consecutive game, Smith scored at least 20 points and made five three-pointers. His percentage wasn’t good on Tuesday, with a 1-of-5 night inside the arc being more problematic than Smith shooting 5-of-13 from three. Add in the rebounds, and this was a solid showing from Smith, even with the low field-goal percentage. The Rockets have three games left in their regular-season schedule, starting with the 76ers on Thursday.

Smith shot 5-of-7 from beyond the arc on Sunday, making it seven straight games in which he’s made at least two three-pointers. The five triples were the most in a game for him since February 23 against the Jazz. Also, the 23 points were the most that Smith has scored in a game since March 20, when he hit that number in a win over the Hawks. Smith did not record any defensive stats, but the nine rebounds helped fantasy managers.

Smith was unable to extend his run of double-doubles to three games, but he has scored 20 points or more in three of his last six. The Rockets forward shot 4-of-9 from beyond the arc, and the two blocks moved his total to four over the last three games. Since the All-Star break, Smith has provided sixth-round value in eight-cat formats. While there have been occasional hiccups, his production has been more consistent than it was earlier in the season.

Though the turnovers put a damper on his outing, he was able to set a new season high for rebounds in the win. This was his second straight double-double, with the most recent one before that coming before the All-Star break. Smith has struggled with his shot lately, and this game wasn’t an exception. Still, he was able to make up for it on the glass, though he’s going to have to do a lot more to make an impact for fantasy managers.

Smith has scored at least 18 points in each of his last three games, providing consistent offensive value for the Rockets. He finished Friday’s win one rebound shy of a double-double and has provided fifth-round value in eight-cat formats since the All-Star break. Smith will look to end Week 21 on a high note when the Rockets host the Heat on Saturday.