Lottery pick headliners Donovan Clingan and Reed Sheppard sat out for the Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets, respectively, in the NBA Summer League finale between both teams Sunday night. Their absences turned the game into a glorified Rat Ball session only viewable for the most devoted fans and persistent gamblers.
The Blazers gained control of the raggedy affair in the second quarter, then held off a late Houston comeback to win 105-95 and finish with a 3-2 record in Las Vegas.
With Clingan in street clothes, the primary attention for the Blazers turned to second-year forwards Kris Murray and Rayan Rupert, who still suited up.