Bruce Thornton scores 27 in first pro game, turns heads instantly

Former Ohio State guard Bruce Thornton wasted no time making a scoring impact in the NBA Summer League, scoring a team-high 27 points in his first-ever professional game in the Houston Rockets‘ 97-86 win over the Denver Nuggets July 10.

Thornton finished with 7-for-18 shooting, making 3 of 8 3-pointers. He made all seven free throw attempts and tallied three assists, three rebounds, three steals and one turnover. He led all Rockets players with 35 minutes on the floor.

“I can compete, I can hoop,” Thornton told ESPN after the game. “Even though I’m undersized, I give it everything I’ve got.”

Sixteen of Thornton’s 27 points came in the second half.

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3) Katie Smith: at right-2,578 points

Thornton signed his first professional contract with the Rockets on July 7. He was drafted 31st in the 2026 NBA Draft. The contract is four years and worth $9.26 million, according to Spotrac.

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Thornton scored 27 or more points 11 times in his college career with Ohio State, including six times in the 2025-26 season. His career high in college came against Purdue Fort Wayne, when he scored 38 points on 14-of-17 shooting.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Bruce Thornton scores 27 in first pro game, turns heads instantly