Rockets Rout Hawks as Ime Udoka Shakes Up Lineup

Houston coach inserts Reed Sheppard into starting five, leading to improved offense in big win over Atlanta.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 2:23pm

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The Houston Rockets entered Friday's home matchup against the Atlanta Hawks with a 4-6 record in their last 10 games, and one clear problem was a prolonged slump by forward Tari Eason. So, head coach Ime Udoka made a change to the starting lineup by removing Eason and inserting talented second-year guard Reed Sheppard. The move appeared to pay immediate dividends, as the Rockets cruised to a 117-95 victory over the Hawks, who had an 11-game winning streak snapped.

Why it matters

The Rockets' offensive struggles in 2026 had been a concern, as they ranked second-to-last in the NBA in scoring during the calendar year. Udoka's lineup change was an attempt to address that issue by adding more shooting and playmaking around stars Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun. The win moved Houston back to the No. 4 spot in the Western Conference standings, which would give them home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

The details

Udoka explained that the change was made to 'have more spacers out there, some shooting, and have different guys that can handle (the basketball) and do some different things.' Eason, who had been struggling, was moved to a bench role, with Udoka saying 'we'll put him back in his role off the bench, let him relax a little bit, and take a look at Reed.' Sheppard responded with 14 points, 4 assists, and 2 blocks, while the Rockets shot 50.6% overall and 46.7% from 3-point range as a team.

  • The Rockets entered Friday's game with a 4-6 record in their last 10 games.
  • Tari Eason had been struggling and joined the starting lineup in the final week of December 2025.

The players

Ime Udoka

The head coach of the Houston Rockets, who made the lineup change to insert Reed Sheppard into the starting five.

Reed Sheppard

A talented second-year guard for the Houston Rockets, who was inserted into the starting lineup and responded with a strong performance.

Tari Eason

A Rockets forward who had been struggling and was moved to a bench role as part of Udoka's lineup change.

Kevin Durant

An All-Star forward for the Houston Rockets, who praised the team's improved ball movement and multiple playmaking threats in the starting lineup.

Alperen Sengun

The Rockets' starting center, who had a strong all-around game with 15 points, 10 assists, and 9 rebounds.

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What they’re saying

“Obviously, Reed has taken a nice step and jump, lately. 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.”

— Ime Udoka, Head Coach, Houston Rockets

“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.”

— Ime Udoka, Head Coach, Houston Rockets

“It's just another threat outside the 3-point line. All the great basketball teams have multiple guys that can create for themselves and others. In our starting five, I feel like we've got five guys that can put the ball on the floor and make a play, or knock down the shot. So, we've got to utilize that.”

— Kevin Durant

What’s next

The Rockets will face a tough test on Saturday when they host the Miami Heat, one of the league's best defensive teams. The new-look Houston lineup will be put to the test against Miami's stifling defense.

The takeaway

Ime Udoka's decision to shake up the Rockets' starting lineup by inserting Reed Sheppard paid immediate dividends, leading to a much-improved offensive performance and a blowout win over the Hawks. The move highlights Houston's depth and versatility, as they look to solidify their position in the Western Conference playoff race.