Western Conference foes are set to meet in Vegas when the Rockets take on the Trail Blazers. For Houston, this Summer League is all about finding NBA-ready depth to pair with a roster ready for title contention. Things are a bit different for a Portland squad just hoping to reach the playoffs. In Thursday’s battle between two of the association’s youngest teams, which side has the edge?
DraftKings Sportsbook is listing the Trail Blazers as 4.5-point favorites and -198 on the moneyline. The Rockets are at +164 odds on the moneyline, and the game total is set at 186.5 points. Let’s break down both Summer League squads, players to watch, and a pick for the contest.
Rockets vs. Trail Blazers preview, prediction
Outside of the draft’s first few picks, the most intriguing selection of the 2025 NBA Draft was Yang Hansen. The Chinese center was taken 16th overall, earlier than where most analysts had him projected. To be fair, it’s easy to see why Portland’s front office fell in love with the man nicknamed ‘Baby Jokic’. Solid scoring (11.7 PPG), efficient shooting (36.4 3PT%), and stellar passing (3.3 APG) have all been on display through three Summer League games. However, the biggest Blazers standout has been rookie Caleb Love. The Arizona alum is leading the team with 17.7 points per game, albeit on mediocre 35.8% shooting (41.7 3PT%). Despite his (somewhat valid) reputation as a shot-chucker, the guard is certainly making a name for himself.
Other than the first-time pros, Portland is also looking for improvement from several names already on its roster. That includes Rayan Rupert, who saw his workload increase last year. In Vegas, the Frenchman is averaging 16.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.0 steals while shooting 62.5% from the field. As things currently stand, he’s poised for a larger role this season. Fellow wing Sidy Cissoko (10.7 PPG, 3.3 APG) may also warrant a closer look from this Trail Blazers coaching staff.
Following a busy offseason, the Rockets don’t have quite the same level of depth as they once did. Regardless, this team still possesses an enviable amount of young talent. Unfortunately, Reed Sheppard has been shut down for the remainder of the Summer League. That leaves Houston without its leading scorer. In Sheppard’s place, expect Kennedy Chandler to take on a bigger role. The guard hasn’t played in the NBA since 2023. However, he’s been a force this summer (19.0 PPG, 4.3 APG). 27-year-old Adonis Arms has been a surprise as well, notching 18.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists through two games.
Rockets vs. Trail Blazers Pick, Best Bet
The Rockets have dropped three straight games. Granted, two of those losses were one-possession games, but now the team will be without Sheppard. On the flip side, Portland has gone 2-1 in Vegas. This roster, headlined by Yang and Love, simply has more talent than Houston right now. With the spread at just 4.5 points, the Blazers are worth backing tonight.
