Author: Monojit Mandal
As the undefeated Houston Rockets and Cleveland Cavaliers prepare to play in the championship game of the 2023 NBA Summer League, the stage is set for a thrilling finale. After their triumphs in the semi-finals on Sunday, the two teams will play for the championship at the Thomas & Mack Centre in Las Vegas. The game will start at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN.
With a 5-0 record, the Rockets clinched their spot in the championship game by defeating the Utah Jazz 115-101. Likewise, the Cavaliers are undefeated with a perfect 5-0 record, earning their spot in the finals after a hard-fought 102-99 overtime win over the Brooklyn Nets.
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The Cavaliers are on strange ground, having never played in a summer league championship game. The Rockets, on the other hand, are making their first trip to the championship game since 2014, when they narrowly lost to the Sacramento Kings. Both clubs are eager to get their hands on the summer league championship ring, which was originally introduced during the 2022 season.
The Rockets have been dominant offensively throughout the tournament, leading the league with an average of 109.0 points per game before Sunday’s game. Jabari Smith Jr., the No. 3 pick in the 2022 draft, has been the summer league’s leading scorer, averaging an incredible 35.5 points per game in his two starts. Tari Eason also contributed a lot with 23.0 points per game, while Amen Thompson showed promise before an ankle injury interrupted his season.
The Rockets, on the other hand, will be without Smith, Thompson and Eason for the rest of the summer league session. Cam Whitmore, the 20th overall pick in this year’s draft, has benefited from this development. Whitmore seized his chance and performed admirably on both ends of the court, averaging 19.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and a league-leading 3.5 steals per game. Whitmore scored 25 points, four rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal in the most recent game against Utah, with Nate Hinton leading the team with a game-high 27 points.
In addition, the Rockets discovered a hidden gem in two-way point guard Trevor Hudgins, who improved his game in the absence of Smith, Thompson and Eason.