OCTOBER 8•SI.COM
Steven Adams Making an Immediate Impact on the RocketsThe Houston Rockets kicked off their 2024-25 preseason schedule with a road game Monday night vs the Utah Jazz. The Rockets and Jazz struggl...
Amen Thompson - Efficient in loss MondayThompson notched 13 points (6-8 FG, 1-1 FT), three rebounds, an assist and two steals across 22 minutes in Monday's 122-113 preseason loss to the Jazz.
ImpactThompson got the start at small forward over Dillon Brooks (rest) in the preseason opener, and while he's ticketed for a bench role to start the 2024-25 campaign, he possesses decent upside as a do-it-all type of forward who can fill the stat sheet even when coming off the bench. Thompson averaged 9.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.6 blocks per game across 62 regular-season appearances as a rookie in 2023-24.
OCTOBER 8•ROTOWIRE
Alperen Sengün - Fills stat sheet MondaySengun recorded 17 points (6-8 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 4-4 FT), four rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block across 22 minutes in Monday's 122-113 preseason loss to the Jazz.
ImpactSengun missed the final 18 games of the 2023-24 season with a Grade 3 right ankle sprain but was deemed healthy for training camp in late September, and if fantasy managers needed any confirmation of his status, this performance cleared every possible question marking regarding the 'promising big man. It's unclear who will operate as Houston's go-to player on offense this season, but there's no question Sengun has the most upside in the Rockets roster from a fantasy perspective. He's expected to take another leap in his game after posting averages of 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.7 blocks and 0.5 three-pointers in 32.5 minutes per game over 63 regular-season appearances in 2023-24.
OCTOBER 8•ROTOWIRE
Jalen Green - Paces Houston in loss MondayGreen delivered 21 points (7-14 FG, 4-9 3Pt, 3-3 FT), three rebounds and a block across 20 minutes in Monday's 122-113 preseason loss to the Jazz.
ImpactHead coach Ime Udoka attempted to give the potential starters a solid run of minutes in this preseason opener, and Green made the most of it while leading the team in scoring. His role as one of the Rockets' primary offensive threats is not in any danger after displaying tremendous growth in 2023-24, where he averaged 22.8 points per game since the All-Star break.
OCTOBER 8•ROTOWIRE
Johnny Juzang - Solid outing once againJuzang recorded 12 points (4-5 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 2-2 FT), a rebound, an assist, two steals and a block across 12 minutes off the bench in Monday's 122-113 preseason win over the Rockets...
ImpactJuzang was one of the Jazz's best players for a second consecutive preseason game, and he seems to be gaining steam toward earning a spot on the regular-season roster despite playing on a two-way deal. Juzang has shot 11-for-14 from the field in two preseason games, and his performance over the subsequent contests could strengthen his grip on a rotation role with the regular season approaching quickly.
OCTOBER 8•ROTOWIRE
Lauri Markkanen - Struggles vs. HoustonMarkkanen finished with 17 points (3-11 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 11-13 FT), four rebounds and an assist across 24 minutes in Monday's 122-113 preseason win over the Rockets.
ImpactOn the surface, Markkanen's stat line looked good, as he led the Jazz in scoring in this preseason win. However, he would've had a woeful performance hadn't it been for his 13 trips to the charity stripe. One positive aspect is that Markkanen is finding ways to get the job done even when his shot isn't falling, and it's not like the preseason numbers will have any impact on his role as the Jazz's primary offensive threat ahead of the regular-season opener vs. Memphis on Oct. 23.
OCTOBER 8•ROTOWIRE
Keyonte George - Scores 13 points MondayGeorge posted 13 points (3-7 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 5-5 FT), three rebounds, four assists and a steal across 25 minutes in Monday's 122-113 preseason win over the Rockets.
ImpactGeorge has scored a combined 25 points while going 7-for-13 from the field in two preseason games, and it seems he's getting into a good rhythm with the start of the 2024-25 campaign just around the corner. George is expected to be a central figure for Utah both in the short-term and long-term scenario, meaning he should be a strong fantasy option across all formats in his role of being the point guard of a rebuilding team with only one proven offensive threat ahead of him in the pecking order.
OCTOBER 8•ROTOWIRE
