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.
