With rookie Amen Thompson (left ankle sprain) and second-year forwards Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason (rest) sitting out the remainder of the NBA’s 2023 summer league, the expectation entering the final three games for the Houston Rockets was for rookie forward Cam Whitmore to receive a more featured role.
As it turned out, second-year guard Trevor Hudgins took on much of the playmaking burden. He came through in a big way in Tuesday’s 105-92 win (box score) over Oklahoma City. The Rockets (3-0) remain unbeaten and in contention for the 2023 summer-league playoffs (format) in Las Vegas.
Hudgins, who signed with Houston in the 2022 offseason as an undrafted free agent out of Northwest Missouri State, showed why he remains on a two-way NBA contract by scoring a game-high 26 points on efficient 10-of-20 shooting (50%), including five 3-pointers. He also ran the offense well; he finished with 7 assists to one turnover.
Whitmore had 16 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals, making 6-of-14 shots (42.9%) but just 1-of-8 on 3-pointers (12.5%). Rookie forward Matthew Mayer added 19 points and 10 rebounds off the bench for summer head coach Ben Sullivan (Ime Udoka’s top assistant) on 6-of-11 shooting (54.5%) and 3-of-8 on 3-pointers (37.5%).
Rookie wing Keyontae Johnson led the Thunder (1-1) in Tuesday’s loss with 19 points on 9-of-14 shooting (64.3%), while big man KJ Williams had 19 points (61.5% FG) and 13 rebounds.
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 Thursday versus Golden State, with tipoff at 6 p.m. Central and television coverage on ESPN.