Cameron Boozer’s Grizzlies Meet Bruce Thornton’s Rockets in NBA Summer League Semifinal Showdown

The NBA Summer League field in Las Vegas is down to four teams, and Saturday night’s opening semifinal pits two of the West’s most talked-about rebuilding projects against each other. The No. 2 seed Memphis Grizzlies face the No. 3 seed Houston Rockets at 6:30 p.m. ET on Prime Video, with the winner advancing to Sunday’s championship game against either the Los Angeles Lakers or Golden State Warriors.

Both teams enter 3-1 in Las Vegas group play, and both punched their tickets on the strength of point differential rather than an unbeaten record. Memphis finished with the top mark among the four semifinalists at plus-11.5 per game, while Houston checked in at plus-10.3, just ahead of the Warriors. It sets up an all-Western Conference clash headlined by two of the more intriguing storylines of this year’s Summer League: the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft against a scrappy Rockets group that has outplayed its billing all week.

Boozer’s Big Week Meets Houston’s Breakout Backcourt

Cameron Boozer has been the headline act in Las Vegas since the Grizzlies made him the third overall selection this past draft. He capped group play with 24 points and seven rebounds on 10-of-13 shooting in a 96-64 blowout of Atlanta that clinched Memphis’s spot in the semifinals, a game in which the Grizzlies held the Hawks to just two points in the first quarter. Boozer is averaging right around 19 points a game across group play, with Cedric Coward — the Grizzlies’ 2025 first-round pick and an NBA All-Rookie honoree — providing a proven scoring punch alongside him. Coward has topped 20 points in multiple Vegas outings, and forward Taylor Hendricks and guard Javon Small give Memphis a deeper rotation than most Summer League rosters can match.

Houston’s story has been Bruce Thornton, the Ohio State product Houston traded up to grab in the second round of this year’s draft. Thornton scored 23 points on 7-of-13 shooting to go with four rebounds and two steals in Houston’s 100-83 win over Brooklyn that locked up the No. 3 seed, and he’s been every bit as productive across the tournament, including a 27-point debut. Tristen Newton, on a two-way deal with the Rockets, backed him up with 20 points, six rebounds, two steals and a block in that same win over the Nets, while Quadir Copeland and Isaiah Crawford have rounded out a starting group that has been far stingier defensively than expected. Reed Sheppard isn’t on Houston’s Summer League roster, but Thornton’s play has already sparked real conversation about his path into Houston’s regular-season rotation.

What the Numbers Say

Memphis holds a slight edge on paper. The Grizzlies’ point-differential advantage over the course of group play, combined with Boozer’s efficiency as a go-to scorer, gives them the higher offensive ceiling in this matchup. Houston’s calling card has been defense and depth — the Rockets have found four or more double-digit scorers in recent wins, which matters when the games get tighter in the elimination rounds. Both teams have shown they can blow opponents out; the difference Saturday will likely come down to whether Boozer and Coward can generate enough easy looks against a Houston defense that has been the more disciplined of the two units through four games.

The oddsmakers see it as a competitive game with a lean toward Memphis. The Grizzlies are favored by 4.5 points, with the total set at 186.5. Bettors looking to get down on Summer League action can find current lines and offers through a DraftKings promo code or a FanDuel promo code.

Prediction and Best Bet

Memphis’s top-end talent advantage should be enough to get past a feisty Houston group that has overachieved all week. Boozer and Coward combining for 45-plus points feels well within range against a Rockets defense that hasn’t faced a scoring duo this dangerous yet in Vegas.

• Prediction: Grizzlies 92, Rockets 85
• Best Bet: Grizzlies -4.5

Houston has been the surprise of the West bracket, but Memphis’s combination of a true No. 1 scoring option in Boozer and a proven complementary piece in Coward gives the Grizzlies just enough separation to cover and advance to Sunday’s championship game. For bettors comparing options before tip-off, a BetMGM Sportsbook review or Caesars Sportsbook review is a good place to start, and our Expected Value calculator can help gauge whether the number on Grizzlies-Rockets offers real value.