Hill, Budinger starting for Rockets in summer league game
By Javier Morales
LAS VEGAS — Chase Budinger re-enters the game with 5:15 left in the game and promptly misses a jumper near the top of the key. Budinger shooting 4-for-12 from the field (25 percent) after shooting a torrid 68 percent in five games last summer here.
Jordan Hill re-enters the game at the 4:12 mark in the fourth quarter.
Budinger’s second attempt of a drive following a pick was again unsuccessful as two defenders altered his shot that fell short.
In the open court, Budinger looks more smooth. He scores on the next possession taking a pass on the wing and swooping to the hoop.
Hill scores on consecutive dunks off good feeds from Jermaine Taylor and Ishmael Smith. He attempts a shot again and looks to be fouled by Gani Lawal and nothing is called. Hill becoming much more aggressive. He commits his fifth foul on a offensive pushing call in the lane and then fouls Lawal for his sixth when Lawal drives to the basket.
Game over: Rockets fans rejoice. Houston beats Phoenix 100-82. Hill scores 16 and Budinger 10. Check later on TucsonCitizen.com for a feature on Hill.
Final stats:
Budinger: 10 points on 5 of 14 shooting, 0 of 3 three-pointers, one rebound, three assists, no turnovers, two steals, four fouls.
Hill: 16 points on 7 of 10 shooting, 2 of 4 from free-throw line, five rebounds, two assists, two turnovers, one steal, six fouls.
—–
Chase Budinger and Jordan Hill remain on the bench to start the fourth quarter.
Interesting to see former USC teammates Dwight Lewis and Marcus Johnson go against each other. Lewis is with Houston and Johnson with Phoenix. Maarty Luenen (Oregon) is another former Pac-10 player in the game, playing for Houston.
Johnson penetrated against Lewis and laid it in easily to start the fourth. Looked like Lewis was taking it easy on his ex-teammate.
Budinger and Hill stats after three quarters:
Budinger: Eight points on 4-of-11 shooting from the field, 0-of-3 from three-point range, one rebound, two assists, no turnovers, one steal, three fouls.
Hill: 12 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field, 2-of-4 from the free-throw line, five rebounds, two assists, one turnover, one steal, four fouls.
—–
Good sequence for Chase Budinger and Jordan Hill to start the second half. Budinger emphatically yanks down a defensive rebound, makes the outlet pass and Hill finishes on the offensive end for Houston.
It was Budinger’s first rebound of the game, at the 7:13 mark of the third quarter.
Hill scores two baskets in a span of 10 seconds after maneuvering past Gavin Edwards on a quick post move and then picking up a loose ball and laying it in with almost 5:00 left in the third quarter. That matches his entire scoring out put in the first half.
Edwards, by the way, is from Gilbert and he just completed his career at UConn.
He now has 12 points and just drew a charging foul. Hill had four personals in the first half, but has yet to foul in the second half with about 3 minutes remaining. He has drawn three fouls on both sides of the court. His play is in stark contrast to how he started.
UA connection: Hill makes difficult interior pass to Budinger for the lay-in with 2:10 remaining, giving Houston a 65-60 lead. Hill and Budinger remain on the bench after an ensuing timeout.
(more…)
