On October 9th , the NBA preseason continued, with the Houston Rockets defeating the Utah Jazz 140-127. New signing Kevin Durant made his debut, scoring 20 points in 23 minutes. Shin Kyung-shin also had a well-rounded performance, contributing 13 points, 13 assists, and 4 steals.

At the start of the game, the Rockets trailed 3-11 . Durant's mid-range shot stabilized the game, followed by a series of fast-break baskets from Amen and a scorching outside shot from Sheppard. The Rockets trailed 23-25 in the first quarter . In the second quarter , Durant and Amen both delivered dunks, and George and Shin Kyung hit consecutive baskets, putting the Rockets ahead 67-61 at halftime .

In the second half, Durant continued his shooting form, hitting mid-range and three-pointers, showcasing his top-tier scoring ability. Sheppard and Eason responded to the Jazz's offensive from the outside, leading the Rockets 107-101 at the end of the third quarter . In the final quarter , Amen and Eason scored on fast breaks, gradually extending the Rockets' lead to double digits. Sensabo's three-pointer sealed the victory, and the Rockets ultimately defeated the Jazz 140-127 .

Jazz player statistics

Bailey had 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists; Sensabaugh had 24 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist; George had 16 points, 2 rebounds, and 9 assists; Hendrix had 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists; Nurkic had 12 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists; Love had 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists.

Rockets player statistics

Durant had 20 points, 2 rebounds and 1 assist; Thompson had 19 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists; Smith had 18 points and 3 rebounds; Shen Jing had 13 points, 5 rebounds and 13 assists; Sheppard had 11 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists; A-Holiday had 11 points and 2 rebounds; Green had 10 points and 3 rebounds.