NBA Summer League Day Eight Recap: Nance dominates, Jimmermania returns

With the conclusion of the Orlando and Utah Summer Leagues, we have turned our full attention to the action down in Sin City for the Vegas Summer League. There were eight games played in Vegas Saturday, including 10 former Mountain West players involved in six of the eight games.

Phoenix Suns 86, Portland Trail Blazers 73

No Mountain West players were involved in this one, but we’d be remiss to not share Devin Booker’s 28 point, eight rebound, six assist day for the Suns. The next highest scorer for either team was Pat Connaughton’s 14.

Brooklyn Nets 79, Cleveland Cavaliers 73

The second game of the day in Vegas was also without an ex-Mountain West player. Sean Kipatrick’s 19 points guided the Nets to the six-point victory.

Chicago Bulls 71, Boston Celtics 62

Former BYU Cougar forward Brandon Davies was the only player from the Mountain West to appear in this game. Davies was a pivotal member in the nationally-ranked BYU Cougars teams that featured Jimmer Fredette, averaging 17.7 points and 8 rebounds a night. It wasn’t a huge day for Davies against the Bulls Saturday, logging 11 minutes to go with two points and three boards.

Washington Wizards 88, Utah Jazz 73

Jazz guard Spencer Butterfield, who spent two seasons with Utah State, had a quiet afternoon against the Wizards Saturday. Butterfield was a key cog to the Aggies 2013 and 2014 seasons, averaging 12.6 points and shooting a gaudy 44.5% from deep during his career. In 13 minutes Saturday, Butterfield had one basket and two personal fouls.

Denver Nuggets 106, Memphis Grizzlies 62

The Nuggets-Grizzlies matchup Saturday was chock-full of Mountain West talent, as three players combined to play 42 minutes and log 35 points, eight rebounds and five assists. However, it was all Jimmer Fredette as he single-handedly led the Nuggets to a blowout victory over the Griz. Fredette, the former Naismith player of the year at BYU has had his fair share of struggles in the pros, but he wants to ensure that Denver gives him a chance this season. Jimmer started, played 26 minutes, and torched the nets with an efficient 9-18 mark from the field including 4-8 from deep and 4-4 from the free throw line for a total of 26 points. Ex-Wyoming guard Josh Adams had a decent outing for Denver, with a 7/4/2 slash line in 13 minutes off the bench. Antwan Scott, the former Colorado State guard, make a quick six-minute appearance in his first Summer League game, and added two points and two rebounds for the Nuggets.

Los Angeles Lakers 70, Philadelphia 76ers 69

Larry Nance’s performance Saturday is another reminder of why Lakers fans and other NBA followers believe that the former Wyoming forward can be an elite player in the league. Nance spent four seasons in Laramie, taking his 4.1 PPG average as a freshman to an impressive 16.1 PPG average as a senior. Saturday night, Nance logged a team-high 35 minutes and filled the stat sheet on both ends, with 13 points, eight rebounds, seven steals, four blocks and four assists.

Oh, and he also did this.

Look for Nance to continue to build his highlight reel throughout the remainder of the Vegas Summer League.

The two Mountain West players on the Philadelphia side weren’t nearly as productive, as former Boise State forward James Webb came off the bench for only 104 seconds and was unable to score a point. Christian Wood, the ex-UNLV forward, has shined in Summer League play, but only had 13 minutes of playing time Saturday night, logging four points and five rebounds in a losing effort to the Lakers.

Dallas Mavericks 83, Miami Heat 63

Another day, another quiet game for Miami Heat center Chris Obekpa. The former Rebel has struggled to make any type of impression on Heat coaches or scouts, as he failed to score but added four rebounds in 12 minutes in a 83-63 blowout.

San Antonio 63, Golden State Warriors 6

The first player off the board from the Mountain West in the 2016 NBA Draft, former UNLV guard Patrick McCaw, started and played 32 minutes for the 2015 NBA champions. McCaw filled up the stat sheet in a number of ways in the Vegas nightcap, going 6-13 from the field en route to a 14-point outing. McCaw was also active on defense, grabbing four rebounds, blocking two shots and recording a steal. Look for McCaw to make a solid impact for the Warriors in 2017, despite what many consider the most talented roster in the NBA.

There is a total of eight games scheduled for Sunday in Vegas, the full schedule is listed below.

Atlanta Hawks vs. Washington Wizards (4 PM ET)

Milwaukee Bucks vs. D-League Select (4:30 PM ET)

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Toronto Raptors (6 PM ET)

Houston Rockets vs. Sacramento Kings (6:30 PM ET)

Utah Jazz vs. New Orleans Pelicans (8 PM ET)

Chicago Bulls vs. Philadelphia 76ers (8:30 PM ET)

San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers (10 PM ET)

Phoenix Suns vs. Boston Celtics (10:30 PM ET)