Las Vegas Summer League Day 5: No. 2 with 26 points and the state recovering Wenban missed the Spurs to win
On July 12th, the Las Vegas Summer League reached its fifth match day, featuring a total of 6 thrilling games.
In a tightly contested match, the Hornets fell short to the Trail Blazers with a final score of 93-97. Despite the absence of Blazers’ No. 3 pick, Henderson, the competition remained intense, with the outcome being decided in the final quarter. Sheldon Sharp stood out for the Trail Blazers, scoring an impressive 26 points, along with 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal. Sharp’s performance included 17 points in the final quarter, securing the victory for his team.
Chris Murray, the twin brother of Kings player Keegan Murray and the No. 23 pick for the Trail Blazers, also had a strong showing, contributing 19 points and 7 rebounds. For the Hornets, Brandon Miller, the No. 2 pick, displayed promising form with 26 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks. Additionally, rookie Nick Smith Jr., the No. 27 pick, made an impact with 33 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block.
In another notable game, the Rockets triumphed over the Thunder with a score of 105-92. Despite resting key players like Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Ethan, the Rockets found their offensive firepower in Whitmore, the No. 20 pick. Whitmore contributed 16 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals in the game.
For the Thunder, KJ Williams, an undrafted pick from 2022, stood out with 19 points and 13 rebounds, including 7 offensive rebounds. However, Carson Wallace, the No. 10 pick for the Thunder, struggled with only 8 points, 1 rebound, and 3 assists, along with 5 turnovers. Wallace’s plus-minus value of -20 was the lowest of the game.
In the latest matchup, the Spurs emerged victorious over the Wizards with a scoreline of 96-85. Once again, the Spurs’ champion Wen Banyama was absent, providing other players in the team an opportunity to showcase their abilities. Malachi Branham, who had a cold start, bounced back with an impressive performance, scoring a game-high 29 points, including 5 of 6 three-pointers.
Julian Champagni, despite an inefficient shooting display, still managed to contribute 18 points, 7 assists, and 8 rebounds for the Spurs. Dominic Barlow inside had 20 points and 7 rebounds.
For the Wizards, Bilal Coulibaly, Wenbanyama’s teammate in Ligue 1, scored 10 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks.
In other games, the Bulls staged a comeback to defeat the Kings with a score of 107-99. Jevon Freeman Liberty led the Bulls’ resurgence with 28 points, 6 assists, and 2 steals, while Jordan Ford contributed 25 points and 8 assists for the Kings.
The Nets dominated the Bucks with a convincing victory of 92-71. David Duke of the Nets played a pivotal role, scoring 24 points, along with 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals.
The Pelicans secured a win against the Suns with a scoreline of 82-73. Dyson Daniels shined for the Pelicans, displaying all-around skills with 10 points, 8 assists, 3 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Meanwhile, Hunter Hal stood out for the Suns with 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Overall, the Las Vegas Summer League provided exciting matchups and showcased the talents of promising young players, setting the stage for their future in the NBA.