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) over the Detroit Pistons at 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 overall 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 (52.0%). Smith hit 3-of-10 from 3-point range (30.0%) and 9-of-10 on free throws (90.0%).
