As the Houston Rockets entered their third preseason game, with a matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans in Birmingham, Alabama, the return of Steven Adams was a strong signifier that this game could be an opportunity for the team to fully test out the "double-big" lineup that became their secret weapon towards the end of last season.
Test it they did, with a starting lineup featuring Amen Thompson, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr, Alperen Sengun and Adams, and their extensive run on the court together could represent a growing trend in the absence of starting point guard Fred VanVleet.