The first meeting between Cade Cunningham and Jalen Green in the NBA lived up to the hype as the top two picks in the recent draft put on quite a show in their Summer League duel on Tuesday.
Green, the No. 2 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, finished strong after a slow start, recording 25 points and five rebounds to lead the Houston Rockets to a 111-90 win over the Detroit Pistons. He shot 6 of 11 from the field, including 3 of 5 from beyond the arc, to power the Rockets to their second consecutive victory in the tournament.
Cunningham scores 20 points for Detroit in a losing effort
Cunningham more than held his own in his much-anticipated showdown with Green, scoring 20 points, grabbing four rebounds, and dishing out two assists. He shot 8 of 18 from the floor, including 4 of 9 from the 3-point area, but Cunningham's effort wasn't enough as the Pistons crashed to their second straight defeat in summer league play.
It wasn't just Green and Cunningham who starred in this contest. Two other rookies stepped up big time for the Rockets in their huge win on Tuesday, Josh Christopher and Alperen Sengun.
Christopher, who was drafted 24th overall by Houston, was a constant threat for the Rockets in transition, finishing the game with 15 points as he shot 6 of 12 from the field. Sengun recorded 21 points and eight rebounds, including a deep three-pointer from the logo that delighted the fans inside the Thomas & Mack Center.
Apart from Cunningham, four other players scored in double figures for Detroit. Luka Garza scored 15 points, followed by Saben Lee, who chipped in 13 markers. Saddiq Bey and Tyler Cook completed the cast, adding 12 and 10 points, respectively.
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Cunningham, Green followed different paths in chasing NBA dream
Cunningham and Green took vastly different paths to reach their NBA dream. Cunningham went the traditional route, joining the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the NCAA. He was exceptional during his first and only year with Oklahoma State, averaging a conference-high 19.7 points per game to become just the fourth freshman to win Big 12 Player of the Year honors.
On the other hand, Green decided to skip college and joined the NBA's G League Ignite development program instead. He never backed down against other professional basketball players, dazzling observers with his scoring ability, averaging nearly 18 points per contest. Green delivered when it mattered most, posting a career-high 30 points and seven assists in the Ignite's lone outing in the playoffs.
Cunningham was so sure of his draft stock that he refused to work out for any team other than the Pistons, who had the No. 1 pick. Green felt the same way, conducting two workouts with the Pistons and the Rockets, who selected him as the No. 2 pick.
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