Sheppard didn't take full advantage of his opportunity to start, and it could signal a concerning trend as the season plays out.
In the Houston Rockets' 114-92 victory over the Phoenix Suns, their defense was yet again overpowering as their opponents struggled to gain any momentum on the offensive side of the floor, and, given Amen Thompson's stellar performance, there were multiple silver linings to walk away with in Kevin Durant's absence.
Yet, the performance of Reed Sheppard, who got the start for the first time this season, was mildly concerning.