For the first time, the Rockets are in the NBA’s championship game at its annual summer league in Las Vegas. Based on a 5-0 start, including a victory in Sunday’s semifinal versus Utah, Houston will face the Cavaliers (5-0), who are also unbeaten after defeating Brooklyn in Sunday afternoon’s other semifinal at summer league.
The Rockets will again be short-handed, with rookie guard Amen Thompson (left ankle sprain) and second-year forwards Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason (rest) sidelined. But in their absence, rookie prospect Cam Whitmore and two-way players Trevor Hudgins and Darius Days have picked up the slack and then some.
Whitmore, drafted at No. 20 in the 2023 first round, has been nothing short of sensational — including 25 points on efficient shooting in Sunday’s emphatic win against the Jazz.
But the athletic 19-year-old forward out of Villanova, who has been put in good spots on the court by summer-league head coach Ben Sullivan (Ime Udoka’s top assistant entering the regular season), will face a new challenge from an unbeaten Cleveland group.
When and How to Watch
- Date: Monday, July 17
- Time: 8:00 p.m. CDT
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free) or via Watch ESPN, with active subscription
Potential starting lineups
These are based on each team’s latest summer-league game.
Houston Rockets (5-0)
- Guard: Trevor Hudgins
- Guard: Cam Whitmore
- Forward: Nate Hinton
- Forward: Darius Days
- Center: Jermaine Samuels Jr.
Cleveland Cavaliers (5-0)
- Guard: Craig Porter
- Guard: Sam Merrill
- Forward: Emoni Bates
- Forward: Luke Travers
- Center: Isaiah Mobley
Injury/status reports
Houston is again without Amen Thompson (left ankle sprain) on Sunday afternoon, and second-year forwards Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason (rest) are out, as well. Big man Jay Huff left the summer-league team after reportedly signing a contract with another team.
Rockets’ complete 2023 summer league roster
Headlined by top rookies Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore, the #Rockets released their complete roster for the NBA’s 2023 summer league in Las Vegas. Their first game is Friday, July 7. https://t.co/1aKzRpyHHK
— The Rockets Wire (@TheRocketsWire) July 4, 2023
Recaps of previous games
Cam Whitmore continued his electric run at the NBA’s 2023 summer league with 25 points on efficient shooting, and it led the #Rockets to Monday’s championship game. https://t.co/QmR84vI3Xj
— The Rockets Wire (@TheRocketsWire) July 17, 2023
