Summer League Game Thread: Rockets vs. Cavaliers

Houston Rockets (0-0) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (0-0), August 8, 2021

Location: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV

TV: ESPN2

Cavaliers SBNation Blog: Fear The Sword

There is a Rockets basketball game today. It’s been 12 weeks since the Rockets let out for summer vacation, but the underclassmen are back in school hooping before the year begins to get some extra reps in.

It’s the unofficial Rockets debut for #2 overall pick Jalen Green and he’ll battle #3 overall pick Evan Mobley in the first game of the Las Vegas showcase.

For the Rockets, Green isn’t the only new face on the roster.

Those making their Rockets debuts today include fellow draftees Alperen Sengun and Josh Christopher.

Usman Garuba has yet to sign his NBA contract yet with his Real Madrid buyout still in the negotiation process. It’s unclear whether he will play this evening.

Other new faces include:

Marcus Foster, who last played in Turkey

Matthew Hurt, who signed a two-way contract with the Rockets after the draft and led the ACC in scoring last season at Duke

Trey Phills, son of ex-NBA player Bobby Phills

Jalen Tate, brother of Rockets legend Jae’Sean Tate

There are also a good amount of familiar faces in Vegas representing the Rockets. Armoni Brooks, KJ Martin, Anthony Lamb and Khyri Thomas will likely all see some action in Vegas.

Brooks and Lamb, two players in limbo with qualifying offers without an open roster spot. It’s possible that both these two are the favorites for the final two-way spot that is still vacant.

Thomas is in possession of arguably the 15th spot on the team currently, so he should get a good amount of run in Vegas as he looks to hold on to his roster spot.

Martin is the best of the four veterans and is probably too advanced for Summer League, but it will be nice to see if we can get a poster or two from KJ to hold us over until the regular season.

Whatever happens today, this is without a doubt, the most important Summer League team the Rockets have ever fielded so it is an exciting time to be a Rockets fan.

TDS, this is your Summer League game thread. Enjoy!