Former Auburn star Jabari Smith Jr. made a dazzling return to Alabama, shining brightly in the Houston Rockets' 130-128 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans in an NBA preseason game in Birmingham on Tuesday night. Smith, who is gearing up for his fourth NBA season, showcased his prowess by scoring 26 points, sinking seven of 16 field-goal attempts, and making all eight of his free throws. His performance was particularly impressive in the third quarter, where he scored 10 of the Rockets' 42 points, propelling them to a 14-point lead. However, the Rockets' victory was not without a challenge, as New Orleans tied the game with 22 seconds left, and it was only Aaron Holliday's winning basket with two seconds to play that secured the win. Smith's career averages entering the 2025-26 season stand at 13.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists, and he is confident that the Rockets will win the NBA Championship. The game also featured other Alabama natives, such as Rockets guard JD Davison and Pelicans guard Herb Jones, both of whom played at Alabama and were prep stars in the state. While Jones struggled with his 3-point shot, making only 1-of-6 from behind the arc, Davison won the NBA Gatorade League Most Valuable Player Award last season and signed a two-way contract with Houston, allowing him to move freely between the NBA roster and the G League affiliate. The Rockets and Pelicans will conclude their preseason schedules against the Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic, respectively, before starting their regular-season slates against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Memphis Grizzlies, respectively. This game was a homecoming for both teams, and the players expressed their excitement about playing back home. However, the game also highlighted the challenges of the NBA, where even the best players can struggle, and the teams must work together to overcome these challenges and achieve success.
