Despite a rough shooting night, former Ohio State guard Bruce Thornton still showed he can contribute at the next level.
Thornton and the Houston Rockets fell short in the NBA Summer League semifinals on Saturday evening against the Memphis Grizzlies. The 101-90 loss ended a strong performance by Thornton and the Rockets, which led them to the playoffs. The rookie guard had arguably his worst performance of the summer league season, but still had an impressive box score.
Thornton had 8 points on the evening, making only 2-of-12 attempts from the field. Despite the off-game, however, the former Ohio State star still had his fingerprints all over the Rockets’ game. He finished with 8 points and 7 assists, showing that he can impact the game in various ways.
Saturday’s performance came on the heels of a Summer League breakout for the all-time Ohio State leading scorer. He was able to showcase a blend of scoring, playmaking, and toughness that made him one of the Buckeyes’ beloved players and a three-time All-Big Ten selection.
With the NBA Summer League essentially over, Thornton’s next steps with the Rockets will bear watching. Head coach Ime Udoka has a team projected to be one of the favorites in the Western Conference next season. Despite that, he will have to now find a way to include a rookie like Thornton in the rotation. No matter the stage, Thornton proves that he can be a steady, mature point guard capable of doing whatever his team needs when the lights are brightest.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Former Ohio State star Bruce Thornton’s Summer League run ends on high
Reporting by Sunny Verma, Buckeyes Wire / Buckeyes Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Sunny Verma, Buckeyes Wire | USA TODAY Network
