Samsung NBA Summer League: Recap of day 1 of knockout stage
The Samsung Summer League saw plenty of action on Wednesday as the fight intensified to reach the last 16. Here’s how the matches turned out:
(9) Phoenix Suns vs (24) Minnesota Timberwolves: (Minnesota won 86-77)
The Timberwolves entered the knockout stages of the competition without a single win and seeded last of the 24 teams. But when it mattered the most, they captured their first win and in the process move to the championship bracket to face eighth-seeded Sacramento Kings.
Despite 26 points by T.J. Warren and a double-double effort by Miles Plumlee (10 points, 13 rebounds and 3 blocks), the Suns fell short to the balanced attack of their opponents. Minnesota had four players who scored 13 or more points led by Zach LaVine’s 20 points, and Gorgui Deing’s monstrous double-double performance of 13 points and 19 rebounds.
(10) Dallas Mavericks vs (23) Charlotte Hornets: (Charlotte won 82-81)
Charlotte Hornets followed the Timberwolves to become the second team in the competition to go winless through the round robin games and win their first at the most crucial time. The Hornets on the back of contributions from Noah Vonleh (14 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks) and point guard P.J. Hairston’s 18 points advance to the championship round to face seventh seeded New Orleans Pelicans.
Other than 36% shooting from the field, there is no other place the Mavericks could have lost the game. They just happened to find themselves on the wrong end of a game winning buzzer-beating three by Charlotte’s Roberto Nelson despite a huge game by Gal Mekel (17 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists).
(11) Golden State Warriors vs (22) Atlanta Hawks: (Atlanta won 68-65)
If finding the 2013 Summer League Champions Golden State Warriors as the 11th seed wasn't surprising enough, the Hawks served a stunner grabbing their first win by sending the defending champions packing into the consolation round bracket.
Led by Dennis Schroder’s 17 points, the Hawks now face the sixth-seeded Portland Trailblazers. The Warriors put up a fight, but eventually fell short losing the game and their chance to defend their title.
(12) San Antonio Spurs vs (21) Milwaukee Bucks: (San Antonio won 100-71)
After impressing in the first two games, Jabari Parker (2nd overall pick in 2014 Draft) failed to put up effective numbers in the game, in tune his team failed to do the same and ended up receiving the biggest drubbing of the day losing to the San Antonio Spurs by 39 points.
Meanwhile for the Spurs, it was such a balanced performance by the team that every member of the 15 player roster contributed to the 100 points. The Spurs qualify to the championship bracket and will face 5th seed Utah Jazz.
(13) Miami Heat vs (20) Los Angeles Clippers: (Miami won 96-87)
Five players scored in double figures for the Miami Heat as they got the better of the Los Angeles Clippers when it mattered the most. Justin Hamilton’s 18 points and Tyler Honeycutt’s double-double of 11 points and 15 rebounds leads the Heat into the championship round to face fourth seed Washington Wizards.
The Clippers also had five players in double figures led by Keith Benson’s 18 points but fell short as the game slipped from their grasp after halftime.
(14) Houston Rockets vs (19) Toronto Raptors: (Houston won 93-77)
It was a game of two halves for the Raptors as they scored 56 points before halftime, but could manage only 21 in the second half to eventually lose the game. Dwight Buycks led the charge for the Raptors with his 24 points,but he found very little support from the rest of the team.
On the other hand, Houston was trailing by 26 at halftime turned the game on its head and capitalized on Toronto’s poor second half to secure the win. The Rockets had five players in double figures led by center Donatas Motiejunas (18 points and 7 rebounds). Houston now face the Andrew Wiggins (number one overall pick in the 2014 Draft) and his third-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers)
(15) D-League Selects vs (18) Denver Nuggets: (D-League Selects won 87-75)
Five players scored in double figures for the selects led by T. Mitchell’s 26 points and K.Jones’ 19 points off the bench to defeat the Denver Nuggets and move on in the competition to face second seed the New York Knicks.
The Nuggets were a completely contrasting side who struggled on offense with their shooting percentages of 37 and 26 from the field and three-point land respectively. Only two players scored in double digits, Erick Green and Gary Harris with 17 and 15 respectively.
(16) Philadelphia 76ers vs (17) Los Angeles Lakers: (Philadelphia won 85-63)
The 2014 Orlando Summer League Champions the Sixers comfortably beat the Lakers 85-63 without star Nerlens Noel even stepping on the floor. The Sixers bench powered the team to victory outscoring their counterparts 59-15.
Julius Randle the 7th overall pick for the Lakers failed to put up numbers and seperate himself from the pack once again as his team lost the plot in the second and fourth quarter scoring only 17 points combined. The Sixers continue their excellent summer into the next round of the tournament to face the number one seeded Chicago Bulls.