Friday’s summer-league matchup between the Rockets and Trail Blazers was billed as a showdown between two rookie point guards drafted in the top-five picks: Portland’s Scoot Henderson (No. 3 in the 2023 first round) and Houston’s Amen Thompson (No. 4 overall).
It did not disappoint. Jabari Smith Jr. and the summer Rockets beat the Blazers at the buzzer in Las Vegas, 100-99 (box score), but arguably the biggest winners were the fans watching. In a star-studded matchup, Thompson showed flashes of brilliance and stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 3 steals, shooting 6-of-13 from the field (46.2%) while making his only 3-point attempt in 28 minutes.
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For Portland, Henderson had an impressive 15 points and 6 assists on 5-of-13 shooting (38.5%), though he left the game after 21 minutes with a right shoulder injury and did not return. Thompson also hobbled off in the game’s final minute with an apparent lower-leg injury.
Beyond Thompson, key statistics for the Rockets (1-0) included:
- Cam Whitmore: 14 points, 11 rebounds, 2 steals; 5-of-18 shooting (27.8%), 2-of-7 on 3-pointers (28.6%)
- Jabari Smith Jr.: 33 points, 7 rebounds; 8-of-18 shooting (44.4%), 3-of-8 on 3-pointers (37.5%), 14-of-17 on free throws (82.4%)
- Tari Eason: 20 points, 9 rebounds, 4 blocks, 4 assists; 7-of-14 shooting (50.0%), 2-of-4 on 3-pointers (50.0%)
Read on for highlights, postgame interviews with players and coaches, and reaction by fans and media members to Friday’s game. The Rockets return to action with Sunday’s matchup versus Detroit, with tipoff at 6:00 p.m. Central and television coverage on ESPN2. All five summer-league games are being played in Las Vegas.
The Tari Eason finish on a break will be viewed as the highlight, but Amen Thompson’s outlet pass an example why veterans will love playing with him. He’s not just a pass-first guy, it is second and third, too.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) July 8, 2023
Buy that Tari Eason stock…I know I have.
— Craig Ackerman (@ca_rockets) July 7, 2023
Not sure, but generally speaking I think he’s got what it takes to be a contributor on a winning team. And that includes defending all over the floor. Needs to work on his finishing and 3pt shooting, but I like him a lot
— Craig Ackerman (@ca_rockets) July 7, 2023
Tari Eason is going to continue to develop, continue to give every ounce of effort he has, and simply OUTWORK others in this league. I can promise you that.
— Vanessa Richardson (@SportsVanessa) July 7, 2023
Amen Thompson has had some really nice passes already and we’re not even done with the first quarter.
I was on the baseline when he hit Cam Whitmore on a cut and the needle he threaded to make that pass was insane.
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) July 7, 2023
FIRST HALF TAKES:
-Amen Thompson is ready. Will contribute year 1
-Cam Whitmore isn’t. Needs time for his skills to catch up to his athleticism
-Tari Eason should start, & is on course to 2-way stardom
-Officially concerned about Smith. Has not been the best Jabari in this game— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) July 8, 2023
Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. (This is not a religious tweet)
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) July 8, 2023
Whitmore’s physique stands out even more in person. Dude’s a tank. Hope he’s got his head screwed on right
— Draft Dummies (@DraftDummies) July 7, 2023
Amen just makes basketball look easy.
— Anthony Doyle (@Anthonysmdoyle) July 8, 2023
Yeah, Amen is the answer we needed. Goodness what a floor general.
— Houston’s Very Own (@YoItsKenneth) July 8, 2023
Bro Amen’s vision is so refreshing compared to the last 3 years of #Rockets basketball
— Paulo Alves (@PauloAlvesNBA) July 8, 2023
Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun are going to feast in the pick-and-roll together.
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) July 8, 2023
Jabari Smith hitting those 3s is beautiful. That’s the main thing I needed to see
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) July 8, 2023
Ime Udoka on Amen Thompson: “That burst flashes immediately.”
Says he’s been great in #Rockets practices this week and looks very good tonight
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) July 8, 2023
Cam Whitmore’s talent and upside are clearly there. But the decision-making, the processing speed, is the starting point for his development.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) July 8, 2023
Very interesting point by Ime
Says that Jabari plays too upright and often isnt ready to shoot when he catches, and thats why he looks slow on the ball
He’s such a blessing tot his team
— Paulo Alves (@PauloAlvesNBA) July 8, 2023
A great third quarter for Jabari Smith Jr., who scored 12 of his 16 points during the period. Coach Ime Udoka on Smith: “He is great…what we want to see from him is growth.” #Rockets
— Coty M. Davis (@CotyDavis_24) July 8, 2023
Get what you’re saying for sure, but FVV is still more of a combo than an actual point
He’s so good off the ball
Jalen is fantastic off the ball and growing
I’m just not really worried about it
No matter where Amen is at he’s going to get guarded by bigger players https://t.co/ESWj9tMgc4
— Mark Schindler (@MG_Schindler) July 8, 2023
Even among all these crazy athletes, Amen Thompson still stands out athletically. And he looks HUGE. Every bit of 6’7.
— Draft Dummies (@DraftDummies) July 8, 2023
Ime Udoka says Jabari Smith Jr is a “legit 6-foot-11.”
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) July 8, 2023
Some great defensive reads by Amen Thompson, he processes the game so well
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) July 8, 2023
Jabari Smith Jr. settling in here this half.
Everyone just take a deep breath.
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) July 8, 2023
Everyone should take notice to how Tari has played, not needing the ball to be effective, making the quick extra pass, and letting the game come to him. That’s how you become a good nba player
— Madison Moore (@MadManLeaks) July 8, 2023
Jabari Smith Jr asserting himself as the best player on the floor in the third quarter of this game has been an important development
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) July 8, 2023
Love that Cam Whitmore got super excited after getting up and just ran over to Tari Eason to celebrate that vicious dunk.
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) July 8, 2023
Houston absolutely smoked that Tari Eason pick
— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) July 8, 2023
Amen and Sengun will work so well together. Their passing will be infectious and Sengun should feast as a finisher off of Amen
— Draft Dummies (@DraftDummies) July 8, 2023
I know we’re here for Scoot/Amen primarily but I have really enjoyed Tari Eason today
— Nekias (Nuh-KY-us) Duncan (@NekiasNBA) July 7, 2023
Amen already understands switching
— JLS IV (@Slotter) July 8, 2023
Amen for 3! Didn’t expect to see that tonight
— Abel (@AbelGe87) July 8, 2023
Yup. Amen will get the bubble wrap treatment for the rest of Summer League.
— Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) July 8, 2023
Amen Thompson in his Summer League debut:
16 points
5 assists
4 rebounds
3 steals
4 blocksFlashed the passing skillset and defensive tools all game ???? pic.twitter.com/RTx3CK21OW
— SangxAmen (@SangRockets) July 8, 2023
Jabari Smith has been surprisingly good at getting to the free throw line tonight. Up to 13 attempts on the night.
— ᵂᴵᴸᴸ (@BiasedHouston) July 8, 2023
Amen Thompson in his #Rockets Summer League debut showcased his explosive athleticism and terrific passing ability. His numbers in 28 minutes:
16 points
6-13 FG (1-1 3P)
5 assists
4 rebounds
4 blocks
3 steals pic.twitter.com/7KrTC62oLT— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) July 8, 2023
It’s fair to criticize Whitmore’s feel/passing, but his motor is good. He’s an awesome defensive rebounder. 11 rebounds today.
— Draft Dummies (@DraftDummies) July 8, 2023
Amen Thompson and Scoot Henderson were impressive in their debuts. Sucks they both went out injured. But both were so comfortable playmaking, beautiful downhill attacks. Scoot’s shot looked good. Loved Amen’s fight on defense switching on bigger players. pic.twitter.com/72KwufVjzK
— Kevin O’Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) July 8, 2023
Seemed like Amen sprained his ankle after it got landed on.
Fact that he was able to walk off is good.
Done for SL but he’ll be fully ready for training camp
— StanfordKP (@stanfordkp) July 8, 2023
OK, Rockets-Blazers might be the new No. 1 after Jabari Smith Jr.’s logo 3 at the buzzer to win it starting with 0.5 seconds left on the clock. https://t.co/tQnfbgAG6L
— Kevin Pelton (@kpelton) July 8, 2023
Tare Eason fired up on the sideline as the game ends. This Rockets team is fun with the players they have specifically here.
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) July 8, 2023
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