Detroit Pistons (1-0) vs. Houston Rockets (1-0) in NBA Las Vegas Summer League exhibition
When: 6 p.m. Sunday.
Where: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas.
TV: ESPN2.
Pistons starters: TBD.
Notes: This game was supposed to be the Thompson brother showdown, but after Amen Thompson, the No. 4 pick in the NBA draft, hurt his ankle, we won’t get the much-anticipated family matchup.
The Pistons selected Ausar Thompson one pick after his brother was taken in the NBA draft and is one of the most exciting players to watch in Vegas. Ausar showed off his athleticism in his first Summer League game against the Orlando Magic, slicing and dicing through the lane and hitting shooters with some good passes. The Pistons won 89-78 with standout performances from Jalen Duren and James Wiseman.
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But even without Amen Thompson making an appearance for the Rockets, there are still plenty of young players to watch in this game. Just like the Pistons, the Rockets had two first-round picks, and after taking Amen at No. 4, the Rockets picked Cam Whitmore out of Villanova at No. 20, who was projected to potentially go to the Pistons at No. 5 but fell over potential injury concerns.
The Rockets also have Jabari Smith Jr., the No. 3 overall pick in 2022, and Tari Eason, another first-round pick in 2022, on their Summer League roster. Smith hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer for a 100-99 win Friday over Portland.
Other Pistons’ notable players: Exhibit-10 signee Tosan Evbuomwan, Marcus Sasser (rookie), James Wiseman (third season), Jalen Duren (second year), Jaden Ivey (second year), Buddy Boeheim (former Syracuse star).
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