Reed Sheppard Stats Tonight: How did the Rockets guard fare against Spurs? (Nov. 6)
Reed Sheppard and the Houston Rockets faced the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. The encounter is the third meeting between the teams in two weeks. Sheppard, who barely played in those games, had extended minutes this time.
The rookie entered the game with 3:10 left in the first quarter but was taken out before the two-minute mark. He didn't attempt a shot but committed one foul during that stretch. Sheppard started the second period and played the first 10 minutes. His first shot came with 7:15 in the quarter, a 25-footer he failed to make.
Sheppard played a combined nine minutes in two previous games against the Spurs. He already had 10 after two quarters on Wednesday. The rookie was held scoreless, dished one assist and committed two turnovers.
Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka benched Reed Sheppard the entire third quarter despite entering the period with a 63-38 lead. Udoka put him back in to start the fourth quarter while Houston still had a 94-71 advantage.
Sheppard had three points and two assists in the final frame before he was replaced with Jack McVeigh with 2:05 remaining in the game. The rookie played a career-high 20 minutes in the Houston Rockets' 127-100 demolition of the San Antonio Spurs.
Fans were treated to an extended matchup between Reed Sheppard and Stephon Castle
In the previous two games between the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs, basketball fans clamored for more action between Reed Sheppard and Stephon Castle, who was picked one spot after Sheppard in the draft. Udoka and Mitch Johnson, who is filling in for Gregg Popovich, gave the fans what they wanted.
Castle started and played 25 minutes. He and Sheppard took on each other during most of their stints. The Spurs rookie finished with five points, two rebounds and three steals. He went 2-for-8, including 1-for-5 from deep.
The next meeting between the two will be on Feb. 27 when the Rockets host the Spurs in Houston.