Short Handed Houston Rockets Eclipse D-League Select Squad

Jul 10, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; The lower bowl seating of the Thomas and Mack Center is filled with fans watching the Lakers play the Timberwolves during the first day of the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Minnesota won the game 81-68. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Houston Rockets Win First Vegas Outing

Many Clutch City fans entered the night excited to get a peek at the Houston Rockets 2 first round draft picks, but unfortunately neither played, one was held out due to an ongoing injury and the other was a DNP CD.

At first look this was the one team the Rockets didn’t need to be short handed against given they are accustomed to playing together in the D-League and many have spent time on NBA teams.

Yet by nights end the two teams had registered the highest point total of the opening day with Houston putting up 111 points in the victory. It was disappointing not to witness the number 16 draft pick Sam Dekker‘s first foray in a Rockets uniform but he was held out due to a minor lower back issue. Also not in uniform were last season’s rookies Nick Johnson who has a lower leg irritation and Clint Capela who is nursing knee tendinitis. Also missing in action was the number 32 second round draft pick Montrezl Harrell though it appears he was simply a coaches decision DNP.

Regardless there was still plenty of action to catch with Alan Williams posting a game high 27 points. Williams is looking to catch on with an NBA team after going undrafted. His first showing is certainly sure to turn some heads. His 18 first half points gave the Rockets a 55-49 lead by the half and by nights end he had added 10 rebounds (4 offensive) to this 27 points.

UNLV forward, Christian Wood was also undrafted registered 9 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks and Glen Rice Jr. contributed 20 points and 6 rebounds.

The opposition got a decent effort from Blake Griffin’s older brother Taylor who posted 15 points and 14 from Justin Dentmon. The top scorer for the D-League Select squad was Scotty Hopson who scored 27 points while doing his best impression of James Harden with his 12 trips to the free throw line.

The Rockets shot 54.8% while holding the D-League Select team to 43.4% from the field. Houston also thumped them on the boards 44 to 28 and almost doubled their opponent in points in the paint 60-36. The Summer League team even showcased a resemblance to their Rockets varsity team getting out to a big lead then allowing their opponent to come precariously close to catching them before putting the game away.

Pretty typical Rockets game to open summer league. Four guys out hurt. Rockets build 19-pt lead. Hang on to win 111-104. Alan Williams w 27.

— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) July 11, 2015

Houston tips off their second game in Vegas Sunday at 4:30PM versus the Phoenix Suns.

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