Wolves vs. Nuggets Cox Pavilion, Las Vegas, NV NBA TV And we’re back. Summer League for the Minnesota Timberwolves kicks off on Friday night in Las Vegas against the Denver Nuggets. While the Wolves didn’t have a lottery pick this year, there’s still plenty of intrigue with this matchup against Denver and this team throughout Summer League as a whole. The two players fans will be watching are Josh Okogie and Keita Bates-Diop. Okogie was drafted with the 20th-overall pick and Bates-Diop was taken 48th overall, a pick that was thought to be an absolute steal in NBA circles. This is just one game, so there’s not a whole lot to take from it. No need to overreact. There will be some jitters considering this is their first NBA action. And while Summer League games aren’t always that competitive, this game has pretty solid NBA experience across the board. The Nuggets won’t be with their first-round pick, Michael Porter, but they have Malik Beasley, Tyler Lydon and Thomas Welsh on their roster. Beasley was drafted 19th overall in the 2016 draft and played 9.4 minutes per game last season. Lydon was the 24th pick last season, while Welsh was the team’s second-round pick last month. The Wolves have their two 2018 draft picks along with Amile Jefferson and Jared Terrell. Jefferson absolutely dominated the G League last season in Iowa and was brought up to the NBA for the team’s final push into the playoffs. Minnesota announced Thursday that it signed Terrell to a two-way contract. Terrell, 23, averaged 16.8 points and 3.5 rebounds last season for Rhode Island. More importantly, he shot 41.4 percent from deep. Justin Patton, foot, will not play in Summer League. This is normally the spot where we project starters, but Summer League is weird and it’s not so much about who starts these games, but rather who finishes them. This is a late one. Grab a nap, or a coffee, and expect plenty of postgame content once things wrap up in Vegas.<doc-sep>Josh Okogie gave Timberwolves plenty to get excited about in his Summer League debut on Friday night against the Denver Nuggets. The 20th pick in last month's draft finished with a solid all-around stat line of 10 points, seven rebounds, four assists, three blocks and two steals. When watching the game, it felt more like five blocks and five steals. Okogie was all over the place. This block and pass. My goodness gracious. Tom Thibodeau is smiling somewhere. This whole play makes me want to gamble. pic.twitter.com/sWuvMiqBmr — Kyle Ratke (@Kyle_Ratke) July 7, 2018 Here he is with some aggressive defense to force the steal. You bet Thibs is loving this. pic.twitter.com/o3Jn2jJrWe — Kyle Ratke (@Kyle_Ratke) July 7, 2018 And this dive and the pass up the court! Okogie stealing that hoagie. pic.twitter.com/UCDnYkzVLN — Kyle Ratke (@Kyle_Ratke) July 7, 2018 There’s plenty to love with Okogie’s play. But there’s also plenty to work on considering it was his first look at NBA basketball. He shot just 2-for-10 from the field and had five turnovers, although a lot of that can also attributed to rookie jitters. “I just had a lot of energy,” Okogie said after the game. “Pretty much the whole game, so much energy and so much adrenalin going on. Going too fast, going 100 miles per hour. But things did slow down . . . It will take time to adjust.” Okogie’s performance came in a 70-69 loss. Fellow rookie Keita Bates-Diop missed a half-court shot that would have won the game for the Wolves. The Wolves were down 62-41 after the fourth quarter and fought back to outscore the Nuggets 28-8 in the fourth. A difference for the Wolves was the free-throw line. They shot just 12-for-24. Leading the Wolves was Isaiah Cousins, who finished with 15 points, shooting 7-for-12 from the field. Amile Jefferson, who tore up the G League last season, finishing with 12 points and 14 rebounds, something we’ve become accustomed to from him. Bates-Diop finished with nine points and seven rebounds. Like Okogie, there was probably some nervousness. He shot just 3-for-11 from the field and had four turnovers. “I think our guys were a little nervous, some butterflies, and that’s okay. I liked the way they competed,” Timberwolves Summer League coach John Lucas III said. “They could have easily folded when we were down 15-16, they showed effort. They fought back.” Monte Morris led Denver with 15 points, while Vlatko Cancar added 11. Malik Beasley, a first-round pick two years ago, finished with 10 points and five rebounds. The Wolves are back at it on Sunday afternoon against the Toronto Raptors. Tipoff is at 2 p.m. on NBA TV.<doc-sep>Ethan Miller/Getty Images The 2018 NBA Summer League was in full swing on Friday, with 10 games being played in Las Vegas. Earlier in the week, summer-league games had been played in Utah and Sacramento. But with the action shifting to one spot, the basketball world was focused on Nevada. After all, top-10 picks Deandre Ayton, Trae Young and Collin Sexton were among the rookies expected to take the court. But, of course, there were plenty of others looking to show what they can do. Below is a look at Friday's action from Las Vegas. 2018 NBA Las Vegas Summer League Schedule/Results — July 6 Houston Rockets 92, Indiana Pacers 89 New Orleans Pelicans 90, Toronto Raptors 77 Video Play Button Videos you might like Orlando Magic 86, Brooklyn Nets 80 Charlotte Hornets 88, Oklahoma City Thunder 87 Milwaukee Bucks 57, Detroit Pistons 47 Boston Celtics 95, Philadelphia 76ers 89 Cleveland Cavaliers 72, Washington Wizards 59 Phoenix Suns 92, Dallas Mavericks 85 Denver Nuggets 70, Minnesota Timberwolves 69 Golden State Warriors 77, Los Angeles Clippers 71 Aaron Holiday Shows He Can Become Sidekick for Oladipo The Indiana Pacers pushed the eventual Eastern Conference champs to seven games in the first round with Victor Oladipo leading the way, and now, they may have found another star-in-the-making via the 2018 NBA draft. Since being taken with the 23rd overall pick last month, Aaron Holiday has done nothing but impress his new team. The former UCLA Bruin's shot selection quickly earned praise from the coaching staff, and the summer league gave him a chance to put on a show for Pacers fans. Before the game even started, the 6'1", 187-pound point guard showed off his athleticism. Once the game tipped off, Holiday was Mr. Do It All. He dropped 23 points while shooting an impressive 9-of-15 from the floor, and he added five rebounds and three assists. And while he can finish at the rim, he also can shoot from range. He made three of his six attempts from beyond the arc. Bleacher Report scout Jonathan Wasserman was among those impressed by the rookie's summer-league debut: Unfortunately for Holiday and Co., Indiana didn't have answers for Trevon Duval (20 points) and Danuel House (20 points). In the end, a strong team effort from Houston helped the Rockets hold on for a 92-89 victory. Even with the result, though, the Pacers have to be encouraged from what they see from their first-round pick. A backcourt featuring Holiday and Oladipo has the potential to give opposing defenses headaches. Trevon Bluiett Proves His Long-Range Game Translates to the NBA Trevon Bluiett went undrafted out of Xavier last month, and that could be leaving some teams kicking themselves for not taking a chance on him. The 23-year-old shooting guard may not have had the best skill set in his class, but he certainly looks like he can fit into today's NBA. Throughout the course of his four-year career with the Musketeers, he went from shooting 32.6 percent from downtown as a freshman to 41.7 percent as a senior. Still, nobody felt he was worthy of a draft pick. The consensus second-team All-American put on an absolute show in Vegas on Friday, draining six of his eight shots from three-point range: Not only that, but he also proved he can play some defense: Overall, he put up 24 points, six rebounds, two assists and one block. Not bad for an undrafted rookie. Bluiett will have to show that Friday was no fluke and he can continue to knock down shots from the perimeter with consistency. He has the track record that shows he can, and that he will put in the work to improve. As the Rockets and the Golden State Warriors have shown, teams can never have too many sharp-shooters. Bluiett still has a long way to go to make a roster, but he certainly got off to a good start to the summer league. Isaac, Bamba Give Magic Promising Frontcourt The Orlando Magic may be in the midst of a six-year playoff drought, but that may soon be a thing of the past. And it's all thanks to their promising young frontcourt. Jonathan Isaac (No. 6 overall pick in 2017) and Mohamed Bamba (No. 6 overall in 2018) were both on the court in Vegas on Friday, and it gave Magic fans a glimpse of what could be an exciting duo. Isaac was limited to just 27 games last season due to an ankle injury. Well, he looked healthy against the Brooklyn Nets, putting up 20 points and seven rebounds. While Isaac has already had a (limited) chance to play for Orlando, Bamba is looking to show he can help his team in a variety ways: To recap: This 7'1" center can attack the rim, protect the rim and hit a jumper from distance. That's tough to contain. RealGM's Dave DuFour's insight should have Orlando fans excited for the future: With Aaron Gordon back, this Magic squad—when healthy—could be one to keep an eye on as it develops over the next few years. Isaac and Bamba both have intriguing skill sets, as Friday's action showed. Malik Monk Poised to Take Next Step Following Quiet Rookie Campaign After being taken with the 11th overall pick in last year's draft, Malik Monk faced adversity from the start of his career as he had to battle an ankle injury as he entered the league. That would set the tone for what would be a tough rookie campaign. The 6'3", 200-pound guard averaged 19.8 points on 45 percent shooting in his lone season at Kentucky. In his first year as a pro, he averaged 6.7 points in 13.6 minutes per game. He shot just 36 percent from the floor and 34.2 percent from three-point range. Charlotte fans should be encouraged by what they saw on Friday, though. The second-year player had a strong summer-league opener behind 23 points, including 15 in the first: While he struggled from deep as a rookie, he made four of his nine shots from three-point range on this day.<doc-sep>Sam Wasson/Getty Images A 2-0 record stands out in the win-loss column, but a few players have impacted final results with impressive performances in the Las Vegas Summer League. While fanbases keep a critical eye on lottery picks expected to make a significant impact, undrafted players and new faces hope to earn a spot in the main rotation. Generally, summer-league play allows participants to let their shots fly, show their strengths and work on weaknesses. Nonetheless, there's still a sense of competitiveness along the way. A good day in Las Vegas consists of progression and winning. As we head into Day 4 of summer-league play, which teams have separated from the pack as 2-0 squads? Who's effectively pushing for significant roles on the regular-season roster? With 10 more contests on Monday's slate, where should spectators direct their attention? Monday, July 9 Schedule New Orleans vs. Detroit at 3 p.m. on NBA TV Indiana vs. Cleveland at 5 p.m. on NBA TV Charlotte vs. Boston at 7 p.m. on NBA TV Milwaukee vs. Denver at 9 p.m. on NBA TV Brooklyn vs. Minnesota at 11 p.m. on NBA TV Video Play Button Videos you might like Toronto vs. Oklahoma City at 3:30 p.m. on ESPNU Washington vs. Philadelphia at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN2 Golden State vs. Dallas at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2 Orlando vs. Phoenix at 9:30 p.m. on ESPNU LA Clippers vs. Houston at 11:30 p.m. on ESPNU Standings New Orleans Pelicans (2-0) Phoenix Suns (2-0) Denver Nuggets (2-0) Charlotte Hornets (2-0) Houston Rockets (2-0) Orlando Magic (2-0) Portland Trail Blazers (2-0) Los Angeles Lakers (2-0) Golden State Warriors (1-1) Memphis Grizzlies (1-1) Milwaukee Bucks (1-1) New York Knicks (1-1) Chicago Bulls (1-1) Boston Celtics (1-1) Cleveland Cavaliers (1-1) Indiana Pacers (1-1) Oklahoma City Thunder (1-1) Dallas Mavericks (1-1) Los Angeles Clippers (1-1) Minnesota Timberwolves (1-1) San Antonio Spurs (1-1) Utah Jazz (1-1) Miami Heat (0-2) Atlanta Hawks (0-2) Toronto Raptors (0-2) Sacramento Kings (0-2) Washington Wizards (0-2) Philadelphia 76ers (0-2) Brooklyn Nets (0-2) Detroit Pistons (0-2) Stat Leaders Point Leaders 1. Trevon Bluiett, New Orleans Pelicans (25.0) 2. John Collins, Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls (24.0) 3. Malik Monk, Charlotte Hornets (23.0) 4. Furkan Korkmaz, Philadelphia 76ers (22.0) 5. Josh Hart, Los Angeles Lakers (21.5) Rebound Leaders 1. Tyler Dorsey, Atlanta Hawks (14.0) 2. Amile Jefferson, Minnesota Timberwolves (13.5) 3. Landry Nnoko, Miami Heat (13.0) 4. Ante Zizic, Cleveland Cavaliers (12.5) 5. Willy Hernangomez, Charlotte Hornets (12.0) Assist Leaders 1. Chris Chiozza, Washington Wizards (8.0) 2. Daniel Hamilton, Oklahoma City Thunder (7.5) 3. Wade Baldwin IV, Portland Trail Blazers (7.5) 4. Shaquille Harrison, Phoenix Suns (7.0) 5. Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks (7.0) Steal Leaders 1. Derrick Walton Jr., Miami Heat (4.0) 2. Cedi Osman, Cleveland Cavaliers (4.0) 3. Moritz Wagner, Los Angeles Lakers (3.0) 4. D.J. Wilson, Milwaukee Bucks (3.0) 5. Dennis Smith Jr., Dallas Mavericks (3.0) Block Leaders 1. Wendell Carter Jr., Chicago Bulls (4.5) 2. Zach Collins, Portland Trail Blazers (4.0) 3. Christian Wood, Milwaukee Bucks (3.5) 4. Mitchell Robinson, New York Knicks (3.0) 5. Jonathan Isaac, Orlando Magic (3.0) Note: All stats listed in averages per game. Players to Watch Collin Sexton Sam Wasson/Getty Images As the No. 8 overall pick in the past draft, Collin Sexton becomes the new face of the Cleveland Cavaliers post-LeBron James part two. Yes, Kevin Love will likely lead the team in scoring for the upcoming season, but the long-term future rests with the 19-year-old, who's expected to run the offense and take his shots as a dynamic point guard. Through two games, Sexton attacked the basket in a similar to the way he did at the collegiate level. Thus far, the Alabama product has converted on 8-of-12 free-throw attempts while shooting 37 percent from the field. Don't worry about Sexton's field-goal percentages through the first few contests. It's more important that he finds a comfortable range before wrapping up summer-league competition. The 6'3" guard won't develop a reliable three-point jumper overnight, but the coaching staff should encourage him to shoot with confidence. In Monday's contest against the Indiana Pacers, Sexton will match up against guard Aaron Holiday who's looked impressive, averaging 16.5 points, six rebounds and five assists through two games. Trevon Bluiett Between the 1985-86 season and the present, guard Trevon Bluiett lists seventh among Big East players in points with 2,261 through four seasons at Xavier. He led the Musketeers over the past three campaigns in scoring. Bluiett went undrafted, but he's lighting up the scoreboard as the league leader in points per game with 25. The Xavier product has established himself as the go-to playmaker on the offensive end with a hot hand. He's 12-of-18 from three-point range and 4-of-4 at the free-throw line. During the previous campaign, E'Twaun Moore started 80 games at shooting guard for the New Orleans Pelicans and made 128 triples. Perhaps Bluiett pushes for a spot behind the eighth-year veteran on the depth chart. The rookie looks to remain hot against the Detroit Pistons, who dropped their first two outings in Las Vegas. Willy Hernangomez The New York Knicks sent center Willy Hernangomez to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Johnny O'Bryant and second-round picks in 2020 and 2021 before February's trade deadline. Hernangomez wanted more playing time, but Enes Kanter and Kyle O'Quinn dominated minutes at center under former head coach Jeff Hornacek last season. The Hornets acquired Bismack Biyombo in a three-team deal, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, and Cody Zeller remains on the roster. Nonetheless, the former Knick can push for significant playing time with an impressive showing in Las Vegas. With guard Malik Monk out due to a fractured right thumb, per the team's official Twitter, Hernangomez leads the team in scoring and averages 19 points and 12 rebounds through two outings. In Sunday's contest against the Miami Heat, the third-year pro flashed his offensive prowess and crafty footwork in the paint: Ultimately, Hernangomez's hustle on the defensive end could put him in the thick of the competition for the starting 5 spot.<doc-sep>
Timberwolves vs. Raptors Sunday, 2 p.m. Cox Pavilion, Las Vegas NBA TV Both of these teams are looking to get their first Summer League win of 2018 on Sunday afternoon. The Raptors are coming off a 90-77 loss to the Pelicans on Friday, while the Wolves are coming off a 70-69 loss to the Nuggets. Toronto has some intriguing names on its roster. There’s OG Anunoby, who started 62 games last season as a rookie. Malachi Richardson was a first-round pick two years ago. And Marquis Teague, the brother of Wolves guard Jeff, saw some time with the Memphis Grizzlies last season. Also keep an eye on Rawle Alkins who is looking to crack an NBA roster after being undrafted last month out of Arizona. The Wolves also have their fair share of names to watch, albeit with less NBA experience. Josh Okogie and Keita Bates-Diop were the team’s 2018 draft picks. In his Summer League debut, Okogie finished with 10 points, seven rebounds, four assists, three blocks and two steals. Bates-Diop added nine points and seven rebounds. Those are solid numbers, but the two shot a combined 5-for-21 from the field and 2-for-12 from the 3-point line along with committing nine turnovers. Those hiccups were expected in their first NBA action. Amile Jefferson tore up the G League last season and finished with 12 points and 14 rebounds on Friday. And then there’s Jared Terrell, who the team signed to a two-way contract earlier this week. He finished with five points and three rebounds. This will be a good test for the young Wolves against guys who have more NBA experience than most Summer League players.