Through their first seven games of the 2026-27 season, the Houston Rockets (6-1) are tied for the most wins of any NBA team. One big reason is Jabari Smith Jr.’s career year.

After Saturday’s 119-98 victory (box score) over Oklahoma City, the 23-year-old power forward is averaging career-highs in points (19.0), field-goal percentage (48.9%), 3-point percentage (44.7%), free-throw percentage (88.0%), and true-shooting percentage (64.6%).

Versus the Thunder, Smith led the Rockets with 30 points and 9 rebounds while shooting 10-of-18 overall (55.6%), 6-of-12 on 3-pointers (50.0%), and 4-of-5 on free throws (80.0%).

“He impacted the game in a ton of ways,” head coach Ime Udoka said postgame. “But when a shot is falling like that and he’s got bigs on his some, he’s going to get those looks.”

After scoring 30+ points twice in 2025-26, Smith has matched it in just the first seven games of 2026-27.

“It’s just the benefit of playing with good players,” Smith said of his approach. “Alpi (Alperen Sengun) will draw a lot of attention. KD (Kevin Durant) will draw a lot of attention. I’m left alone sometimes, so it’s just on me to be aggressive in those moments. Knock down shots, and just play my game.”

Against the Thunder (4-2), other individual standouts included:

• Marcus Smart: 24 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists; 7-of-10 on 3-pointers (70.0%)

• Alperen Sengun: 16 points, 9 assists, 9 rebounds; 6-of-17 shooting (35.3%), 4-of-6 on free throws (66.7%)

• Kevin Durant: 14 points, 4 assists, 3 blocks; 4-of-9 shooting (44.4%), 6-of-6 on free throws

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder): 26 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists; 10-of-20 shooting, 3-of-6 on 3-pointers (50.0%)

But the clear headliner was Smith, who went a game-best +33 in his 33 minutes played.

“Losing kinda rubbed us the wrong way, so we didn’t want to lose two in a row,” said Smith, whose Rockets lost their only game a night earlier in Dallas. “We wanted to come out here and get the job done. Back-to-backs, nobody cares. Everybody has back-to-backs. The good teams win them.”

Saturday’s game opened up a three-game homestand for the Rockets, and it continues with Monday’s visit from the Boston Celtics (4-1).

Tipoff from Toyota Center is at 7:30 p.m. Central, and the game will be televised and streamed regionally on Space City Home Network (SCHN) and to national and international audiences via NBA League Pass.