Reed Sheppard scored a career-high in first career NBA start

by:Zack Geoghegan•about 9 hours•

ZGeogheganKSR

Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard (15) moves the ball down the court beside Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace (22) during the second half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

It took over 60 regular season games, but the Houston Rockets finally decided to give Reed Sheppard his first career NBA start. And the Bluegrass native took advantage of every single second on the floor.

Sheppard dropped a career-high 25 points Monday night in the Rockets’ 137-128 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The rookie guard shot 10-17 from the field (3-7 3PT) while tacking on five assists (also a career-high), two rebounds, two steals, one block, and three turnovers in over 31 minutes of action. With five of Houston’s top seven rotational pieces sidelined due to injury, Sheppard was awarded his opportunity to step up.

Unfortunately, it’s tough to come away with the win when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is dropping 51 points for the other team. It marked SGA’s fourth 50-point game of the season, all of which have happened within the last seven weeks. OKC, sporting a 50-11 record, took a 13-point lead into the fourth quarter and cruised to the victory from there. But Sheppard was giving Cason Wallace the work on offense.

Reed Sheppard with a career-high in his first career start 📊

25 PTS | 5 AST | 2 REB | 2 STL | 1 BLK pic.twitter.com/qTlh2ZDMTv
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) March 4, 2025

Regardless of the outcome, it’s about time we saw Sheppard receive some real NBA run. 31 minutes of action is easily his season-best and the most he’s played since his 28-minute performance back on Feb. 4 in a loss to the Brooklyn Nets. He was in and out of the rotation the last couple of weeks, but injuries to multiple starters forced head coach Ime Udoka’s hand.

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Sheppard, selected third overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, has appeared in 43 games this season for a surprisingly good Houston team. The Rockets hold a 37-24 record, good enough for the fifth seed in the Western Conference. While competing for a top playoff spot, Sheppard’s on-court development has taken a backseat. He even spent a week in the G League, quickly winning G League Player of the Week before being called back up to the Rockets.

On the season, Sheppard averages 3.9 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 11.9 minutes per game. Let’s keep those extended minutes coming, Mr. Udoka.