William McDowell-White impresses with Rockets, stays patient on foot recovery

William McDowell-White is still on a playing time restriction from following an earlier foot injury, but looked good as a starter alongside fellow Aussie Deng Adel. The Houston Rockets won 94-92 against the Sacramento Kings.

McDowell-White started the game strong with a timely assist off the pick and roll in the first possession, finding Isaiah Hartenstein for an open dunk. During the next play, his cross-court pass got picked off, but was negated thanks to a careless Sacramento turnover. During the third quarter, the point guard hit two three-pointers to tie the game up for Houston. He played 10:15 in this game, finishing with 6 points, 1 rebound and 1 assist.

"The thing with [McDowell-White], he's got a very high basketball IQ, he can knock down open shots," Summer League Rockets coach Batt Brase said. "... So we wanted him to be on the ball a little bit more, so that's why we started him in the first and third quarters, just so he can be the primary ball handler and get some other people involved."

https://twitter.com/HoustonRockets/status/1148791831146057728

"It gives you so much confidence, to know they believe in you to run the team and make calls for others and also yourself," McDowell-White said post-game. "When [coach Brase] told me this morning, I knew I had to come ready, because the guys in Sacramento, you got guys who played in NCAA championship games. It was tough, I was a bit cold with the foot but I think once I got into it, it felt really good. I felt good, and obviously the team felt good."

Despite not being able to make a bigger impact, the point guard knows he needs to exercise patience with his foot, and not rush his return.

"Everybody wants to play, wants to get back," McDowell-White shared with NBL Overtime. "But for me personally, I'm just being patient. I don't want to make it any worse and miss more time. We trust this medical staff here, they're one of the best so whatever they say, it's going to happen."

Deng Adel had 2 points (1/5 FG), 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in nearly 19 minutes of playing time.

https://pickandroll.com.au/australians-playing-in-nba-summer-league-2019/

Xavier Cooks was a DNP against the Memphis Grizzlies; the Phoenix Suns lost 60-79.

Isaac Humphries was also a DNP, against the Washington Wizards. The Los Angeles Clippres won, 90-72 with Jerome Robinson leading the team in scoring.