ORLANDO, Fla. — In a conference of 2 of the leading selects in the NBA draft, it was Jabari Smith Jr. and the Houston Rockets that emerged triumphant over Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic.
Smith returned from a one-game lack on Monday in the 134-127 triumph, recording 3 points, one rebound and one help in 22 minutes. He did not play on Saturday in a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves due to a bout with the influenza and is still working to get back into rhythm.
Rockets head coach Stephen Silas wasn’t rather sure how Smith would respond goinginto the contest after missingouton time, and idea the 3rd choice was a bit rusty. He went 1-of-4 from the field.
He appeared out of rhythm to me. He appeared like he hadactually been off for a week and hadactually been ill and in bed and hadn’t had a practice. He was attempting to do the right things. He was in nasty problem and had a couple of open looks that he missedouton and some fumbles of the ball that he generally doesn’t have so I’m chalking this one up to simply not being in rhythm and being ill for a week.
On the other side, Banchero led the Magic with 30 points, 6 rebounds, 4 helps and 2 takes in 35 minutes of work. He bec