For the first time, the Rockets are in the NBA’s championship game at its annual summer league in Las Vegas. Based on a 5-0 start, including a victory in Sunday’s semifinal versus Utah, Houston will face the Cavaliers (5-0), who are also unbeaten after defeating Brooklyn in Sunday afternoon’s other semifinal at summer league.
The Rockets will again be short-handed, with rookie guard Amen Thompson (left ankle sprain) and second-year forwards Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason (rest) sidelined. But in their absence, rookie prospect Cam Whitmore and two-way players Trevor Hudgins and Darius Days have picked up the slack and then some.
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Whitmore, drafted at No. 20 in the 2023 first round, has been nothing short of sensational — including 25 points on efficient shooting in Sunday’s emphatic win against the Jazz.
But the athletic 19-year-old forward out of Villanova, who has been put in good spots on the court by summer-league head coach Ben Sullivan (Ime Udoka’s top assistant entering the regular season), will face a new challenge from an unbeaten Cleveland group.
- Date: Monday, July 17
- Time: 8:00 p.m. CDT
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free) or via Watch ESPN, with active subscription
These are based on each team’s latest summer-league game.
Houston Rockets (5-0)
- Guard: Trevor Hudgins
- Guard: Cam Whitmore
- Forward: Nate Hinton
- Forward: Darius Days
- Center: Jermaine Samuels Jr.
Cleveland Cavaliers (5-0)
- Guard: Craig Porter
- Guard: Sam Merrill
- Forward: Emoni Bates
- Forward: Luke Travers
- Center: Isaiah Mobley
Houston is again without Amen Thompson (left ankle sprain) on Sunday afternoon, and second-year forwards Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason (rest) are out, as well. Big man Jay Huff left the summer-league team after reportedly signing a contract with another team.
Headlined by top rookies Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore, the #Rockets released their complete roster for the NBA’s 2023 summer league in Las Vegas. Their first game is Friday, July 7. https://t.co/1aKzRpyHHK
— The Rockets Wire (@TheRocketsWire) July 4, 2023
Cam Whitmore continued his electric run at the NBA’s 2023 summer league with 25 points on efficient shooting, and it led the #Rockets to Monday’s championship game. https://t.co/QmR84vI3Xj
— The Rockets Wire (@TheRocketsWire) July 17, 2023
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