Rockets rout Hawks as Ime Udoka starts Reed Sheppard over Tari Eason
Ime Udoka changed Houston’s lineup by starting Reed Sheppard over Tari Eason, and the result was a better offense in Friday’s big win over Atlanta.
HOUSTON -- The Rockets entered Friday’s home matchup versus Atlanta with a 4-6 record in their last 10 games, and one clear problem was a prolonged slump by Tari Eason . So, head coach Ime Udoka made a change to his starting lineup by removing Eason and inserting talented second-year guard Reed Sheppard. It appeared to pay immediate dividends in Houston’s 117-95 victory ( box score ) over the Hawks, who had an 11-game winning streak snapped.
“Obviously, Reed has taken a nice step and jump, lately,” Udoka explained. “But we wanted to have more spacers out there, some shooting, and have different guys that can handle (the basketball) and do some different things. ” “Tari is struggling, obviously, but it’s not necessarily that, as much.
He’s still doing the things we want him to do defensively. But we’ll put him back in his role off the bench, let him relax a little bit, and take a look at Reed. ” With the win, Houston (42-27) moved back to No.
4 in the Western Conference standings , which would put them in position to hold home-court advantage in at least the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs. Atlanta (38-32) fell to No. 7 in the East.