NBA Summer League 2018: Saturday Scores and Highlights from Las Vegas Results
Following an eight-game slate of consolation games Friday, single-elimination action resumed Saturday at the Las Vegas Summer League as 12 teams looked to punch tickets to the quarterfinals.
The No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers and No. 2 Portland Trail Blazers were off with their spots in the final eight already booked, but prized prospects like Wendell Carter Jr., Collin Sexton and Jaren Jackson Jr. were all in action with their sights set on advancing.
Here's a look at the day's biggest takeaways. The updated bracket can be viewed at the league's official website.
Saturday Schedule and Results
Detroit Pistons def. Chicago Bulls, 72-66
Cleveland Cavaliers def. Houston Rockets, 92-87
Toronto Raptors def. Charlotte Hornets, 87-84 (OT)
Boston Celtics def. Miami Heat, 74-72
Philadelphia 76ers def. Milwaukee Bucks, 91-89
Memphis Grizzlies def. Utah Jazz, 92-86
Saturday's Takeaways
Antonio Blakeney Makes Another Compelling Case for Bench Role
Antonio Blakeney is a walking bucket.
The LSU product entered Saturday's quarterfinal tilt averaging a sixth-ranked 20.3 points per game in Vegas, and he continued to fill it up against the Detroit Pistons with 24 points on 8-of-22 shooting, including 3-of-7 from three.
That's the kind of microwave scoring the Bulls need to bolster a second unit that includes Cameron Payne, Denzel Valentine and Justin Holiday.
"He's a guy when you are struggling to put the ball in the basket, he can go by his man and he can create," Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg said, per Bulls.com's Sam Smith. "We didn't have a lot of those guys last year who can get by their man like that."
Defensive deficiencies will likely give Hoiberg pause when it comes to giving Blakeney bigger minutes off the bench, but his irrational confidence and ability to score from all three levels should make him a contender for a more significant role when training camp starts.
Sexton Will Transform Cavs' Pace, Style of Play
The Cleveland Cavaliers ranked 12th in pace (100.45 possessions per 48 minutes) a season ago, and it stands to reason that number will rise throughout the 2018-19 season.
LeBron James is gone—leaving a massive playmaking void—and speedy rookie Collin Sexton figures to assume a heavy share of the ball-handling responsibilities.
And based on Sexton's 17-point performance Saturday, it looks like the Cavs will be a run-first operation.
The former Alabama point guard thrives when he can grab rebounds and run in the open floor, gliding around defenders while making the hardwood his personal slalom course.
In Cleveland, that style should be a natural fit as head coach Tyronn Lue searches for a new offensive identity.
The Cavaliers aren't replete with playmakers to begin with, which means it will behoove them to run as often as possible in hopes of carving out offense early in the shot clock. If they can't, half-court sets might grow stagnant with Kevin Love as their only other real anchor.
The good news is Sexton is a heady floor general with rocket-fueled quicks that will send defenders scrambling.
Hornets Must Hope Bridges Can Flourish Off-Ball
The sample size has been small, but it hasn't been encouraging with regard to Miles Bridges' spot-up shooting.
The No. 12 overall pick shot 37 percent over his first four summer league appearances, and he followed up with a 5-of-20 display in Saturday's 87-84 loss to the Toronto Raptors.
If those struggles carry over into the regular season, the Hornets will have to hope Bridges can embrace slashing and cutting off the ball.
The good news is that, based on small pieces of Saturday's effort, it appears he could thrive in such a role thanks to his big hops:
Shifting into that mode will be a major change after Bridges logged a 27.2 usage rate, per Sports Reference, as a ball-dominant force during his two years at Michigan State, to be sure.
But with a distributive dynamo like Kemba Walker at the helm, the transition shouldn't be all that turbulent.
Yabusele's Development Could Give Celtics Bench Added Versatility
As if the Boston Celtics weren't deep enough already, Guerschon Yabusele is starting to look like a real keeper.
Following a steady start to his summer league stay, Yabusele continued to flash his versatile game en route to 12 points, 10 rebounds and three assists against the Miami Heat.
As a scorer, Yabu showed an ability to fill it up from multiple levels. He looked confident in his stroke with smooth mid-range and baseline jumpers, showed end-to-end ball-handling chops and worked a floater into the mix to display some soft touch below the free-throw line.
Sprinkle in some smooth passes from the high post, and head coach Brad Stevens may soon have another unsung hero to deploy off the bench.
"Guerschon's greatest strength is his ability to see the game and make plays for others, seeking opportunities off a roll, driving a big off a closeout. Working on his footwork so he can get by a big on a closeout," Stevens said, per the Boston Herald's Mark Murphy. "That's what we're focused on with him."
Zhaire Smith Shows Potential to Produce in Expanded Role
Zhaire Smith is far from a finished product, but summer league has shown he won't be quiet whenever he hits the floor for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Smith was buzzing on both ends throughout Philadelphia's 91-89 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, and the result was a full line that featured eight points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal.
As always, Smith's athleticism stood out.
The Texas Tech product showed active hands in passing lanes, and the result was an impact that was felt over all 94 feet of the Vegas floor:
That's what the Sixers expected when they acquired Smith from the Phoenix Suns in a draft-night trade that shipped Mikal Bridges to the desert.
What they may not have been expecting was a clean jumper.
While Smith's range was a major question mark entering the predraft process, he proved again Saturday that his mechanics are a bit more polished than expected when he curled off a screen and nailed a one-dribble pull-up from deep:
Still just 19, it's going to take some time for Smith to develop the trust of the Sixers coaching staff as Philly pushes for an Eastern Conference title.
But with true two-way talent, it's going to be hard to keep him off the floor once he settles into a comfortable rhythm at the next level.
Jevon Carter's Tenacity on Both Ends Makes Him Valuable Commodity
Jevon Carter isn't generally associated with offensive excellence.
That changed Saturday.
Although the second-round pick made a name for himself at West Virginia behind tenacious on-ball defense, he served as the Memphis Grizzlies' offensive catalyst in a 92-86 win over the Utah Jazz.
Carter finished with 26 points on 11-of-22 shooting while operating primarily inside the arc, and that line was fueled by some pretty finishes at the rim:
As if that weren't enough, Carter added eight rebounds, six assists and a pair of steals to cap off a stellar evening.
A true Grit 'N' Grind persona, Carter already looks like a prototypical Memphis guard who will thrive off chaos at both ends.
