NBA Summer League Semifinals Set
Las Vegas, Nevada – The NBA Summer League is drawing to a close and the semifinals are set to run on Monday, July 16th. The Cleveland Cavaliers will face off against the Los Angeles Lakers, while the Memphis Grizzlies set to take on the Portland Trail Blazers.
The NBA Summer League has been one exciting event. The fans and coaching staff of various teams were treated to a sneak peek at some of the league’s youngest and brightest future stars.
John Holland and Collin Sexton powered the Cavaliers over the Toronto Raptors and combined 41 points. The Cavs topped the Raptors 82-68. Holland hit four triples, while Sexton dished out six assists. Chris Boucher led the Raptors with 18 points. OG Anunoby missed their finale due to being rested by the staff.
The Lakers blew out the Detroit Pistons 101-78. The Lakers leaned on Josh Hart, who has simply been spectacular all Summer League long. Hart scored 18 points in 21 minutes and has been making a strong case for a spot on the team’s rotation. Expect the Lakers to give him some serious run in the preseason. 21-year-old Ukrainian prospect Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk paced the team with 19 points. Henry Ellenson tried his best to keep the Pistons in the game with his 22 points. He’s struggled with consistency in the past and since he’s playing behind Blake Griffin, could have a hard time finding some minutes in the season.
Wade Baldwin IV handled the play-making duties for the Portland Trail Blazers with a 14-point, 10-assist double-double. He fed John Jenkins for most of the game, allowing Jenkins to finish with 25 points on some efficient shooting from the field (9-of-12). Jenkins’ performance may have earned him some consideration from the team’s staff, which he could parlay into a camp invite. The secured the Blazers a win to the tune of 95-80 over Boston. Trey Davis was the Celtics’ top scorer with 19 points off the bench.
Fourth overall pick, Jaren Jackson Jr. continued to put his defense on display in the Grizzlies’ 82-73 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. He tallied 14 points, eight rebounds and four blocks in 19 minutes. He’s been dubbed as a modern big man for the league, with both the ability to protect the rim and pop off shots from beyond the arc. Turkish forward Turkan Korkmaz had another impressive showing with 19 points, but it was not enough to keep the Sixers in the game.