With top Houston Rockets rookie Amen Thompson sidelined by a left ankle sprain, second-year prospect Jabari Smith Jr. picked up the slack and then some in Sunday’s 113-101 rout (box score) of the Detroit Pistons in the NBA’s 2023 summer league.
After scoring a game-high 33 points in Friday’s win, punctuated by an epic buzzer-beater, the No. 3 draft pick from the 2022 first round was even better against the Pistons with 38 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists on 13-of-25 shooting (52%). Smith hit 3-of-10 from 3-point range (30%) and 9-of-10 on free throws (90%).
Smith had plenty of help, most notably from two prospects Houston (2-0) also envisions having major NBA roles in the coming years. Fellow second-year forward Tari Eason had another strong game with 26 points and 9 rebounds on 12-of-25 shooting (48%), while rookie Cam Whitmore scored an efficient 21 points on 9-of-16 shooting (56.3%) and 3-of-7 on 3-pointers (42.9%).
The Pistons (1-1) were led in defeat by second-year guard Jaden Ivey, who had 22 points and 10 assists on 9-of-15 shooting (60%). Detroit’s frontcourt featured two players with significant NBA experience: James Wiseman and Jalen Duren, which made the performances opposite them by Smith and Eason all the more impressive.
Similarly, Whitmore (No. 20 pick in 2023) held his own against Amen Thompson’s twin brother, Ausar Thompson, who was drafted by the Pistons at No. 5 last month. Thompson finished with 12 points (46.2% FG), 8 rebounds and 6 assists.
Read on for highlights, postgame interviews with players and coaches, and reaction by fans and media members to Sunday’s game. Houston returns to action Tuesday versus Oklahoma City, with tipoff at 5:30 p.m. Central and television coverage on NBA TV. All five summer-league games are being played in Las Vegas.