Four games up, four games down as the Charlotte Hornets, Toronto Raptors, and the Atlanta Hawks kept their unbeaten campaign in Summer League play in Las Vegas.
Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets claimed their first win while staining the LA Clippers’ once spotless record.
HORNETS, HAWKS, RAPTORS JUMP TO 4-0; PACERS, NUGGETS HANG ON
- Charlotte Hornets (4-0) def. San Antonio Spurs (3-1), 106-81: No. 4 pick Kon Knueppel was at the forefront of a masterful Hornets outing that silenced the Spurs to improve to 4-0.
Knueppel finished with 19 points, six assists, and five rebounds as KJ Simpson also chipped in 19, and Damion Baugh contributed 18 markers.
- Atlanta Hawks (4-0) def. Memphis Grizzlies (1-3), 92-88: Make it four straight wins for the Hawks in Summer League play after surviving a late Grizzlies rally.
Jack McVeigh sizzled with 20 points in just 25 minutes off the bench while four other Atlanta players finished in double-digit scoring outputs.
- Toronto Raptors (4-0) def. Golden State Warriors (2-2), 81-69: Ninth overall pick Collin Murray-Boyles helped stretch the Raptors’ unbeaten Summer League start to four games after dismissing the Warriors.
Murray-Boyles racked up 20 points, nine rebounds, and four steals as Toronto shrugged off a rough start before launching a key 26-16 third quarter that spelled the difference.
- Indiana Pacers (2-2) def. New York Knicks (1-3), 91-88: The Pacers squandered an early 17-point lead, but recovered just in time to frustrate the Knicks in a thrilling showdown.
Kam Jones showcased his offensive and playmaking prowess with a 21-point, 11-assist double as Indiana overcame MarJon Beauchamp’ 28-point explosion.
- Denver Nuggets (1-3) def. LA Clippers (3-1), 81-76: The Nuggets nearly blew a 16-point fourth lead before hanging on to clinch their first Summer League win and handed the Clippers’ their first loss.
DaRon Holmes II and Spencer Jones fired 19 and 17 points respectively for Denver, who took a 46-27 halftime lead before staving off LA’s late uprising.
- Detroit Pistons (3-1) def. Miami Heat (1-3), 108-88: Daniss Jenkins and the Pistons raced to a dominant start en route to a dominant romp of the Heat.
Jenkins recorded an impressive double-double performance of 16 points and 10 assists, while Bobi Klintman put up a team-high 20 markers.
- Portland Trail Blazers (3-1) def. Houston Rockets (0-4), 102-83: James Bouknight dropped 25 points in just 20 minutes as the Trail Blazers kept the Rockets winless in Las Vegas.
Chinese rookie Yang Hansen continued to impress, recording eight points, eight rebounds, five assists, and three blocks.
- Boston Celtics (3-1) def. LA Lakers (1-3), 87-78: Jordan Walsh paced a balanced Celtics effort in scoring a comfortable victory over the Lakers.
Walsh finished with 17 points while Hugo Gonzalez, Miles Norris and Kenneth Lofton Jr. combined for 36 markers as Boston rode a 19-9 second frame and coasted from there.
