Reed Sheppard receives no playing time as Rockets advance to NBA Cup semifinals with nail-biting win over Warriors
Reed Sheppard did not see action in the Houston Rockets' nail-biting 91-90 win over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday. Ime Udoka kept him on the bench as the Rockets coach used an eight-man rotation to win their NBA Cup quarterfinal game. Udoka relied on Fred VanVleet, Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green and Aaron Holiday to run the offense.
Sheppard and some non-playing teammates watched from the sidelines as the Rockets rallied for the win. Houston trailed 90-84 after Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga hit a free throw with 3:03 remaining in the game. Fred VanVleet hit a 3-pointer to move the Rockets within three points of the Dubs.
Alperen Sengun scored a layup before Steph Curry missed a 24-footer. Jalen Green won it for the Houston Rockets with two crucial free throws with 3.1 seconds left. Jabari Smith Jr. blocked Brandin Podziemski's potential game-winning shot to seal the game.
Ime Udoka chose to keep the rotation tight and leaned on his most experienced players to punch a ticket to the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas. The Rockets will face the OKC Thunder in the next round. It remains to be seen if Reed Sheppard can see action versus Oklahoma.
Reed Sheppard has struggled to earn minutes in Houston's backcourt rotation
Many wondered how the Houston Rockets would utilize Reed Sheppard when the team made him the No. 3 pick in this year's draft. The popular assumption was he would play backup point guard to Fred VanVleet or give Jalen Green a breather at shooting guard. None of that has happened as Ime Udoka has divided the lion's share of the minutes among his veterans.
When VanVleet sits, Aaron Holiday comes in. Holiday shares playmaking duties with Green or center Alperen Sengun. Sheppard has hardly been used as the Rockets' primary gunner as well. Dillon Brooks has seen more minutes in that role than the rookie.
The former Kentucky star has shown flashes of strong two-way play when given time. Udoka and the front office, though, have largely used him as a third-stringer. The season is still long and Sheppard might still get more minutes even in close games.