Is Reed Sheppard playing tonight against the Warriors? Latest on Rockets rookie's availability for Emirates NBA Cup Quarterfinal (Dec. 11)   

Reed Sheppard will be one of the names to watch out for when the Houston Rockets host the Golden State Warriors at the Toyota Center for the Emirates NBA Cup Quarterfinal on Wednesday. Both teams duke it out for a semifinal berth in Las Vegas, with the winner taking on the OKC Thunder in the next stage.

Sheppard is expected to suit up for the Rockets. He was not listed in the team's injury report ahead of the marquee clash. With key names in Steven Adams and Alperen Sengun listed as questionable, the onus will be on the rookie to offer more support on offense. Reed Sheppard's numbers might not be eye-popping, but he has displayed flashes of his scoring and playmaking potential for Houston in the limited minutes so far.

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How has Reed Sheppard fared in his Rockets run so far?

It hasn't been the ideal start for Reed Sheppard in his rookie season. The third pick in the 2024 NBA draft came in as a solid three-point sniper with immense game IQ and floor general abilities. However, coming off the bench, Sheppard's usage has been fairly low to even prove himself.

While depth can be looked at as a key factor, Sheppard's offense can get better with more minutes seems to be overlooked by Houston as he averages just a quarter in most of his games. In his 24 games in the NBA so far, he averages 3.8 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game in just over 11 minutes of playing time on the floor.

In his last game against the Warriors, Sheppard looked in good touch as he raced to seven points in the first half, but his lack of time later on saw him end with the same number along with three rebounds, one assist, and three steals. He also showed flashes of his playmaking in the game, but the Rockets will need to give him more minutes to help him elevate his game.

The question also remains whether the Houston Rockets will send him to the G League if they decide to make trades ahead of the deadline. It's unlikely they will ship their rookie star, but stranger things have happened in the NBA. For now, Sheppard's heralded brilliance is still all wait and watch.