Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson didn’t get a second act in Las Vegas. There was no Thompson twins show, either.
Wembanyama had an impressive second game in the NBA Summer League on Sunday, but it came on a day where injuries affected what shaped up to be the marquee games after two top players were hurt on opening night.
Henderson, the No. 3 pick in the draft, and Amen Thompson, who went right after him to Houston, were hurt in the same game Friday. Henderson didn’t play Sunday against San Antonio because of a strained right shoulder.
Nor did Amen Thompson go in the preceding game against the Detroit Pistons, who drafted Ausar Thompson with the No. 5 pick. The guards from Overtime Elite became the first brothers to be top-five picks in the same draft.
Henderson’s absence meant he didn’t match up again against Wembanyama, the No. 1 pick by the Spurs, after their teams played two exhibition games in Las Vegas last fall. Wembanyama scored 37 and 36 points for his French team in the two games, while Henderson had 28 for G League Ignite in the opener before having to leave the second game early after hurting his knee.
San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama drives up the court against the Portland Trail Blazers
Wembanyama shoots the ball over Justin Minaya, ending the night with 27 pts and 12 rebounds
Wembanyama wasn’t nearly that sharp in his much-hyped Summer League debut on Friday, shooting just 2 for 13 and scoring nine points. The 7-foot-3 forward acknowledged that he was even confused at times in his opener. But he was much better Sunday, finishing with 27 points and 12 rebounds in the Spurs’ 85-80 loss.
Amen Thompson hurt his ankle late in the Rockets’ victory over Portland in the opener and ESPN reported he would be out for the rest of Summer League.
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ROCKETS 113, PISTONS 101
Jabari Smith Jr. had 38 points, seven rebounds and six assists, while Tari Eason added 26 points, nine rebounds, two steals and two blocks to lead Houston.
Smith, the No. 3 overall selection in the 2022 NBA draft, scored nine of his 33 points in the final 26 seconds of a win – including the winning 3-pointer at the buzzer – over Portland on Friday. He made 13 of 25 from the field against the Pistons.
Cam Whitmore, who fell to the Rockets (2-0) at No. 20 in last month’s draft, added 21 points on 9-of-16 shooting.
Jalen Duren had 23 points and 10 rebounds, and Jaden Ivey scored 22 points with 10 assists for Detroit (1-1). James Wiseman added 17 points and 10 boards, while Ausar Thompson finished with 12 points, eight rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks.
Jabari Smith had yet another 30+ point display in his second straight Summer League game
CAVALIERS 99, RAPTORS 76
Isaiah Mobley scored 15 points and Emoni Bates added 12 points and eight rebounds to lead Cleveland to the win.
Sam Merrill hit four 3-pointers and finished with 14 points, Pete Nance added 11 and Craig Porter 10 for the Cavaliers (2-0).
Gradey Dick had 11 points, eight rebounds and four assists for Toronto (0-2). DJ Hogg also scored 11 points.
Like Smith Jr., second-year forward Isaiah Mobley is also playing in the 2023 Summer League
NETS 98, KNICKS 80
Armoni Brooks scored 21 points, David Duke Jr. added 19 and Jalen Wilson 18 to lead Brooklyn.
Brooks was 8 of 15 from the field, including 5 of 10 from 3-point range. Wilson hit 3 of 4 from behind the arc and grabbed eight rebounds for the Nets (1-1). Kennedy Chandler had 11 points and seven assists.
Charlie Brown Jr. led New York (0-2) with 16 points, Jaylen Martin had 15 points and six assists, while Dmytro Skapintsev and Isaiah Roby each added 12 points.
Armoni Brooks scored 21 points off of 7 of 15 shooting against Brooklyn’s rivals, the Knicks
LAKERS 93, HORNETS 75
Colin Castleton scored 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting and grabbed 14 rebounds, D’Moi Hodge added 16 points and Jalen Hood-Schifino 15 for Los Angeles.
Maxwell Lewis scored 12 points for the Lakers (2-0) and Max Christie finished with 11 points, four rebounds, six assists and four blocks.
Nick Smith Jr., Bryce McGowens and Tre Scott each scored 11 points for Charlotte (0-2), while James Bouknight added 10 points.
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Brandon Miller, the No. 2 overall selection in last month’s draft, also scored 10 to go with eight rebounds and four assists, but shot just 4 of 18, 0 for 7 from 3-point range.
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Colin Castleton scored 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting and grabbed 14 rebounds vs. Charlotte
