Rookies Amen Thompson, Scoot Henderson Take Center Stage in NBA's Loaded Tuesday Slate
The NBA preseason has officially kicked off, and with it the league’s newest crop has slowly begun to integrate themselves into NBA play.
Tuesday’s evening slate features nine games, with both NBA teams teeing off against one another and a few international teams getting in the mix.
Here are some of the top matchups and players to watch for:
Amen Thompson Versus Jarace Walker
The top game tonight will be between the Rockets and Pacers, where the No. 4 overall pick Amen Thompson will face off against Jarace Walker, the No. 8 pick coming off a strong quasi-debut.
In his debut, Walker notched a team-high 19 points, grabbed nine boards, dished four assists and nabbed two steals and a block.
We only got one quick look at Thompson in Summer League before he suffered an injury, but he’ll look to stuff the stat sheet with his innate athleticism.
New-Look Trail Blazers and Scoot Henderson
At 9 p.m., the Trail Blazers will take on the New Zealand Breakers of the NBL in one of the two international matchups of the night.
Point guard Scoot Henderson, selected third overall, has now officially taken the Portland reigns with Damian Lillard now in Milwaukee.
Tonight’s game is sure to be exciting for Trail Blazers’ fans, but also those league wide who tune in for Henderson’s raw athleticism, scoring prowess and more.
Anthony Black Versus Jordan Hawkins
The sixth overall pick, Anthony Black, will look to claw his way up the minutes latter tonight against the Pelicans, who took Jordan Hawkins No. 14 overall in the 2023 NBA Draft.
The Magic organization has already said it's going to be hard for their rookies to earn significant roles and playing time this season, but Black — a jumbo point guard with premier passing skills and perimeter defense — should find time quickly.
Former UConn sharpshooter Hawkins should find a role quickly on the Pelicans, but it will be interesting to see how they use him in tonight's contest.
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