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LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 23: Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers talks to the media during a press conference at their training faculity in June 23, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 23: Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers talks to the media during a press conference at their training faculity in June 23, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images

NBA Summer League 2017: Scores and Highlights from Friday's Las Vegas Results

Tim DanielsJul 7, 2017

The 2017 Las Vegas Summer League kicked off Friday with a busy six-game slate split between the Cox Pavilion and the Thomas and Mack Center in Paradise, Nevada.

Day 1 was headlined by the hyped debut of Los Angeles Lakers rookie point guard Lonzo Ball. Fittingly, the UCLA product and second overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft started his NBA journey against the rival Los Angeles Clippers.

Let's check out the complete schedule for opening night of the 11-day tournament. That's followed by a recap of the action.

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Friday's Schedule

Los Angeles Clippers 96, Los Angeles Lakers 93 (OT)

Raptors 96 (1-0), Pelicans 93 (0-1)

Fred VanVleet hit a game-winning jumper with 4.5 seconds left to give Toronto a thrilling victory over New Orleans to open play in the Vegas Summer League.

The clutch shot capped a strong showing from the 23-year-old Wichita State product, who split last season with Toronto and its NBA G League affiliate, Raptors 905. He tallied 18 points, nine assists, three rebounds and two steals.

The Raptors highlighted his late-game heroics:

Pascal Siakam added 24 points in 30 minutes by connecting on 10 of his 14 shots from the field. Fellow 2016 first-round pick Jakob Poeltl picked up a double-double with 12 points and 10 boards.

Cheick Diallo posted a game-high 27 points and 10 rebounds for the Pelicans. Quinn Cook also had a solid day at the offensive end with 16 points, knocking down seven of his 13 attempts.

Scott Kushner of the New Orleans Advocate commented on the tandem:

Toronto returns to action Saturday to face off with the Minnesota Timberwolves. New Orleans is off until Sunday when it will take on the Hawks.

Cavaliers 82 (1-0), Bucks 53 (0-1)

All 11 players who played for the Cavaliers scored at least two points as part of a well-balanced offensive attack in a blowout victory over the Bucks.

Edy Tavares led the way for Cleveland with 12 points and he also grabbed eight rebounds. Andrew White (11 points) and Kay Felder (10) also reached double figures in scoring for the Cavs. Anthony Gill only tallied six points, but he pulled down 11 boards.

The Cavaliers spotlighted some of Tavares' strong work down low:

Rashad Vaughn and Gary Payton II combined to score 22 points on nine-of-16 shooting for Milwaukee. The rest of the Bucks shot a paltry 21.6 percent from the field, however, and the team made just 15.4 percent of its three-point attempts in the loss.

Behind the Buck Pass still liked the overall showing from Payton:

The Cavaliers will get a chance to build off the positive vibes from the lopsided win when they take on the Rockets on Saturday. The Bucks return Sunday for a clash with the Nets.

Nets 75 (1-0), Hawks 72 (0-1)

Isaiah Whitehead and Archie Goodwin scored 14 points apiece to lead the Nets to a hard-fought victory over the Hawks in a game that went right down to the final possessions.

Caris LeVert didn't shoot the ball well, making just three of his nine attempts, but still managed to make an impact. The 2016 first-round pick put up 12 points, six rebounds, two assists and a steal.

He also put an exclamation point on the victory, as NBA TV spotlighted:

DeAndre' Bembry tallied a game-high 22 points to pace the Hawks' attack. He also racked up four rebounds, three steals and two assists, but turned the ball over seven times. Taurean Prince (14 points) was the only other Atlanta player who scored in double digits.

Brad Rowland of Peachtree Hoops remains bullish on Bembry:

Brooklyn should have a golden opportunity to pick up another victory Sunday when it takes on Milwaukee. Atlanta will look to bounce back Sunday against the New Orleans.

Clippers 96 (1-0), Lakers 93 (0-1)

Ball will hope his first game as a member of the Lakers ends up being the worst shooting performance of his career. He knocked down just two of his 15 attempts, including a one-for-11 effort from three-point rage, as the Clippers picked up an overtime victory.

His highly anticipated debut wasn't a total bust. He did showcase impressive court vision and dished out a couple impressive assists, but his off shooting night will generate headlines. He failed to connect on a few shots in OT that could have changed the narrative.

NBA.com highlighted his game-opening alley-oop to Brandon Ingram:

Sindarius Thornwell led the way for the Clippers with 26 points, showing off the trademark aggresively he previously put on display at South Carolina. Brice Johnson was also a force in the paint for L.A., going 10 of 15 from the field en route to 23 points.

Mike Gillespie‏ of ABC Columbia liked what he witnessed from Thornwell:

The Clippers don't return to the floor until Sunday against the Utah Jazz. Ball and the Lakers are right back in the saddle Saturday against the Boston Celtics.

Rockets 102 (1-0), Nuggets 99 (0-1)

Troy Williams lit it up from all over the court to score 29 points in 24 minutes to help push the Rockets past the Nuggets in the day's highest-scoring contest.

Williams, who split last season between the Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies and the G League, made nine free throws and four three-pointers as part of the offensive outburst. Zhou Qi provided support with 17 points and six rebounds in the win.

The NBA highlighted one of the Indiana University product's threes:

Malik Beasley was matching him shot for shot throughout the game, though. The Nuggets' first-round pick in last year's draft scored 29 points of his own to go along with six rebounds and two assists. Juan Hernangomez added 21 points.

The Nuggets showcased Beasley's assault on the rim:

Houston will try to make it two for two when it takes on the Cavs on Saturday. Denver is back in action Sunday against the Timberwolves.

Suns 89 (1-0), Kings 85 (0-1)

Josh Jackson and the Suns outdueled De'Aaron Fox and the Kings in an entertaining finish to the opening day of play in Las Vegas.

Jackson, the fourth overall pick in this year's draft, was one of six Phoenix players to score in double digits. The former University of Kansas standout tallied 18 points, eight rebounds, two assists and a block. Marquese Chriss edged him by one point for the team lead with 19 points.

The Suns highlighted a strong Play of the Day candidate:

Meanwhile, Fox didn't have his best shooting night, going 7-of-16 and missing all three of his shots from deep. The No. 5 pick still strung together a nice outing with 18 points, five steals, four dimes and three boards in 27 minutes of work.

Justin Jackson (18 points) and Buddy Hield (16 points and five rebounds) also played well for Sacramento.

Scott Charlton believes Fox possesses truly high-end talent:

Looking ahead, both teams are off Saturday before playing their second games Sunday. The Suns will challenge the Dallas Mavericks. The Kings are set to face the Grizzlies.

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