Rockets’ Jabari Smith Jr., Magic’s Paolo Banchero flash potential in Summer League opener

LAS VEGAS — The showdown wasn’t. The showcase was more of a peek.

Jabari Smith Jr.’s Rockets debut, in a matchup with Paolo Banchero, the player that was thought to be headed to the Rockets but was the first pick of the draft instead, offered glimpses. They matched up but did not duel.

Smith finished with 10 points and seven rebounds as Banchero and the Magic topped the Rockets, 91-77, in the Summer League opener on Thursday.

Banchero finished with 17 points, scoring 12 in the first quarter, and demonstrating deft playmaking skills, with six assists.

The Rockets did not often get Smith free, as he made 4 of 10 shots. There were a few jumpers sprinkled through the night, a few strong drives. But Smith’s night was more about hints of potential, tools to work with.

Second-year Rockets guard Josh Christopher was aggressive and impressive, throughout, finishing with a game-high 22 points. Tari Eason, the second of the Rockets’ three first-round picks, had 14 points with 13 rebounds.

The matchup of Smith and Banchero was not much of a showdown. Banchero was immediately featured in the Magic offense, and looked to score early. As was often said before the draft, he looked very ready to produce quickly.

Banchero made his first four shots, including a slick move to a side-step 3-pointer just beyond Smith’s considerable reach. He knocked down an open 3-pointer and a few jumpers out of the post. By halftime, Banchero had 13 points with four assists.  His best pass came in the third quarter, however, when he faked Daishen Nix off his feet.

Smith took one shot in the first quarter, a 3-pointer that he missed. He got his first bucket moments after returning to the game in the second quarter, beating Banchero off the dribble to finish with his left hand. He came up empty on a similar drive. By halftime, Smith had three points and three rebounds.

He missed another 3 in the third quarter before finishing a drive for his second basket. Minutes later, with Smith trailing on a break, he took a pass from Nix and immediately fired a 3 that he swished.

Another Rockets first-round selection provided more highlights, with Eason opening the game with a strong drive to a hard slam, and later going coast-to-coast to put in a slick scoop.

The game was made the much-hyped Summer League opener, with ESPN coverage and the customary waves of reporters and personalities. The game was also broadcast live in China, with a pregame show and broadcasters on sight.

The game also drew most of the Rockets team, with Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr., Eric Gordon, Jae’Sean Tate, Alperen Sengun, David Nwaba, Garrison Mathews, K.J. Martin and Sterling Brown filling much of the first two rows. Former Rockets guard John Wall sat a few seats over after exchanging hugs and laughs with many of his former teammates.

Smith and Banchero were the headliners of all that, drawing cheers from the Thomas & Mack crowd when introduced or involved in any of the action. But the game did not have quite the buzz of last season’s showdown of the Rockets’ Jalen Green and Pistons’ Cade Cunningham, lacking any of the sense of rivalry that came with Green’s proclamation that he should have been the first pick and preferred Houston, anyway.

Thursday’s Summer League opener was more of a celebration. And for Smith it was a start, with a long way to go, but a demonstration of the potential to get there.

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