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).
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.
Rockets-Warriors reaction
Cam Whitmore today:
26 points
11-21 FG
5 rebounds
8 steals (!) – EIGHT pic.twitter.com/8Zo5VsWRmd— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) July 14, 2023
Houston in the house!@JalenGreen x Coach Udoka pic.twitter.com/lIvivGy51E
— NBA (@NBA) July 14, 2023
Cam Whitmore just tied the Summer League record with 8 steals https://t.co/QGvTR1iiNf
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) July 14, 2023
I’ve seen enough: The #Rockets (4-0) will go unbeaten through group stage and advance to the NBA’s 2023 summer-league playoffs on Sunday afternoon
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) July 14, 2023
TREVORRRRR😂😂😂😂😂he’s so nice
— Jabari Smith Jr (@jabarismithjr) July 14, 2023
Really cool to see Cam Whitmore’s game developing at summer league 🔥🔥
— Vanessa Richardson (@SportsVanessa) July 14, 2023
Jalen Green grabs a seat between Rafael Stone and Ime Udoka. Veterans generally take off after the first weekend here. He (and I) stuck around to check out the Darius Days show.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) July 14, 2023
Jalen Green grabs a seat between Rafael Stone and Ime Udoka. Veterans generally take off after the first weekend here. He (and I) stuck around to check out the Darius Days show.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) July 14, 2023
CAM 🔨 pic.twitter.com/NwUjOU5JV8
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) July 14, 2023
The Jaylen Brown comparisons for Cam Whitmore make a lot of sense to me. You can see how much talent and potential he has. He’s already incredibly physically gifted at such a young age. Houston should have the luxury of bringing him along slowly and developing him over time.
— Roosh (@RooshWilliams) July 14, 2023
I’m planning the Rockets summer league parade route as we speak.
— Matt Thomas (@SportsMT) July 14, 2023
Cam Whitmore on how he’s felt himself grow during summer league:
“the game is slowing down for me…” pic.twitter.com/RPyDZwmQKb
— Vanessa Richardson (@SportsVanessa) July 14, 2023
Darius Days says he feels like it was a breakthrough game for him & loves what he’s seeing from this @HoustonRockets team at summer league 🚀@ATTSportsNetSW pic.twitter.com/GjxLkRhoML
— Vanessa Richardson (@SportsVanessa) July 14, 2023
