Defense may indeed “win championships,” as the old adage goes, but even that phrase didn’t stop observers from questioning how the sometimes-rugged Houston Rockets would handle a head-to-head bucket-getting contest against NBA history’s second-most efficient offense. Through a crowd-stirring sequence that offered 28 bench points over the game’s first quarter-and-a-half, Cam Whitmore arrived with answers on January 22, 2025. Distinguishable in his contributions throughout the first half, Whitmore ups his ante, using a four-on-three and a perfectly-timed alley-oop request to create a fastbreak spotlight for himself. Soaring high, as only a rocket fan, Whitmore collects the basketball in air before powering through a one-handed alley-oop flush, prompting a well-deserved applause from the H-Town faithful. A few untimely misses by the shorthanded-but-league-leading Cleveland Cavaliers allowed the Rockets to secure a signature home win between NBA Finals hopefuls. Sending early-game messages through his off-the-bench boost, Whitmore’s elevation encouraged 16 points (on 6-of-12 shooting), along with two rebounds, one assist, two blocks, and two 3-pointers. · Jan 23, 2025