Takeaways: Cam Whitmore leads Rockets to NBA’s 2023 summer-league playoffs

Once rookie Amen Thompson (left ankle sprain) and second-year forwards Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason (rest) were declared out for the rest of the NBA’s 2023 summer league, many analysts assumed the remainder of the Houston Rockets wouldn’t be as formidable.

That assumption, however, hasn’t translated to reality in Las Vegas. Led by the likes of rookie Cam Whitmore and two-way players Darius Days and Trevor Hudgins, the summer Rockets have maintained a high standard and improved to 4-0 with Thursday’s 118-101 win (box score) over the Golden State Warriors (0-4).

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With that victory, Houston clinched one of only four spots in the 2023 summer-league playoffs, which will take place with Sunday’s semifinals and Monday’s championship game.

Whitmore was outstanding with 26 points on 11-of-19 shooting (57.9%) and 3-of-8 from 3-point range (37.5%), and he had a handful of emphatic transition dunks coming after his game-high 8 steals. Hudgins was strong again, as well, with 20 points and a game-high 11 assists, and he hit 5-of-13 from 3-point range (38.5%).

Other Houston players who scored in double-figures in Thursday’s win included Matthew Mayer (15 points, 6 rebounds, 3-of-7 on 3-pointers); Jermaine Samuels Jr. (18 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 7-of-12 shooting); Darius Days (16 points, 7 rebounds, 5-of-10 on 3-pointers); and Nate Hinton (12 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists).

Kendric Davis led the summer Warriors with 18 points and 5 assists on 7-of-11 shooting (63.6%), but that wasn’t nearly enough against a feisty Houston squad led by head coach Ben Sullivan.

Read on for highlights, postgame interviews with players and coaches, and reaction by fans and media members to Tuesday’s game. Houston returns to action Sunday afternoon in the summer-league playoffs, with a game time and opponent still to be determined.