Story by (© Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)Laci WatsonWed, March 4, 2026 at 2:39 AM UTC·2 min readWith Fred VanVleet sidelined this season, Sheppard was thrust into a development fast track. Reed Sheppard’s reputation entering the league was simple: elite shooter, high IQ, floor spacer. Monday night in Washington looked a lot bigger than that. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIn Houston’s 123-118 win over the Wizards, Sheppard delivered one of the most complete performances of his young career- not just scoring, but controlling the game in multiple ways. The young guard finished with 19 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds, recording his first career double-double while stuffing the defensive stat sheet with six steals (career high) and two blocks, tying another career mark. For a 21-year-old guard, that’s the kind of stat line that demands attention. The shot-making was there, as it has been for much of the past month. Sheppard has now knocked down at least four threes in five straight games, continuing a stretch that has helped stabilize Houston’s spacing. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBut the shooting wasn’t the story Monday night. The playmaking was. Sheppard consistently kept the Rockets’ offense flowing, using quick reads and crisp passes to set up teammates while working especially well in two-man actions with Alperen Sengun.