NBA Summer League 2019: Las Vegas Summer League Day 1 Recap

Kyle Irving

NBA Summer League 2019: Las Vegas Summer League Day 1 Recap image

The Las Vegas Summer League was kicked off with 10 games of action!

There was plenty to unwrap as the first day of the Vegas Summer League did not disappoint.

Zion Williamson's debut was filled with thunderous dunks but Frank Jackson stole the show. Tyler Herro continued his high level of play and Dwayne Bacon showed his ability to score the rock.

The back end of the schedule was postponed due to an earthquake in the arena, but there was still plenty of basketball played throughout the day.

For all other action, we had you covered below!

Detroit Pistons 96, Croatia 80


Pistons: Khyri Thomas – 26 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists

Croatia: Zeljko Sakic – 17 points, 5 rebounds

Former Creighton star and No. 38 pick of the 2018 NBA Draft Khyri Thomas aws the best player on the floor in this one, going for a game-high 26 points with seven made 3-pointers.

Philadelphia 76ers 107, Milwaukee Bucks 106


76ers: Marial Shayok – 19 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist

Bucks: Jock Landale – 25 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal

Canadian rookie Marial Shayok led a balanced scoring attack for the 76ers, who had six players score in double figures. Jock Landale was the best player on the floor, making things difficult for the 76ers' defence.

Minnesota Timberwolves 85, Cleveland Cavaliers 75


Timberwolves: Josh Okogie – 14 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal

Cavaliers: Dylan Windler – 15 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists

Josh Okogie's efforts on both ends of the floor helped the Timberwolves earn the victory. Cavaliers' first round pick Dylan Windler – who impressed during his time at the Salt Lake City Summer League – was at it again with 15 points and eight boards but shot 1-for-5 from beyond the arc.

Miami Heat 103, China 62


Heat: Tyler Herro – 23 points, 4 assists, 3 steals, 2 rebounds

China: Zhelin Wang – 12 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists

Tyler Herro was the standout player at the California Classic and he kept that going in Day 1 of the Vegas Summer League. He scored 23 points shooting 44.4% from beyond the arc with a couple of smooth assists.

Dallas Mavericks 96, Brooklyn Nets 92


Mavericks: Antonius Cleveland – 22 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal

Nets: Jarrett Allen – 19 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks

The Mavericks edged the experienced Nets squad behind a big game from Antonius Cleveland, the G Leaguer who went undrafted out of Southeast Missouri State University in 2017. Cleveland's 22 points led all scorers, giving the Mavericks the win despite a solid performance from Nets' starting centre Jarrett Allen.

Chicago Bulls 96, Los Angeles Lakers 76


Bulls: Daniel Gafford – 21 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal

Lakers: Zach Norvell Jr. – 15 points, 5 assists, 1 steal

Daniel Gafford – the No. 38 overall pick of the 2019 NBA Draft out of Arkansas – dominated on both ends of the floor. His 21 points came on a near-perfect 9-for-10 shooting from the field. First round pick Coby White also had a solid showing in his debut, going for 17 points and three assists.

Charlotte Hornets 93, Golden State Warriors 85


Hornets: Dwayne Bacon – 25 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists

Warriors: Eric Paschall – 12 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists

Dwayne Bacon ended the season strong and he carried that into the start of Summer League. The No. 40 overall pick of the 2017 NBA Draft was getting buckets, going for a game-high 25 points going 9-for-20 from the field and 3-for-9 from beyond the arc.

New Orleans Pelicans 80, New York Knicks 74 – Postponed during 3Q


Pelicans: Frank Jackson – 30 points, 3 rebounds

Knicks: Alonzo Trier – 21 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists

Zion Williamson: 11 points (4-9 FG, 0-2 3PT, 3-6 FT), 3 rebounds, 1 steal

RJ Barrett: 10 points (4-18 FG, 1-8 3PT, 1-4 FT), 5 rebounds, 1 assist

This game produced plenty of highlights – from Zion Williamson ripping the ball out of Kevin Knox's hands for a thunderous jam...


To Mitchell Robinson's electric alley-oops...


But unfortunately, the game was cut short due to an earthquake and the remainder of games at the Thomas & Mack Center have been postponed until further notice.

Orlando Magic 75, San Antonio Spurs 59 - Postponed during 3Q


Magic: Erik McCree – 16 points (6-11 FG), 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block

Spurs: Lonnie Walker IV – 28 points (11-17 FG), 2 rebounds, and 1 steal. 

Despite a scoring burst from Lonnie Walker (28 points in 24 minutes), the 18th overall pick in 2018, the Magic led by 16 at the end of the third before the game was suspended for precautionary earthquake-realted reasons. 

Kyle Irving

Kyle Irving Photo

You read that wrong – not Kyrie Irving. From Boston, graduated from the University of New Hampshire. Sixth season as a content producer for NBA.com's Global editions. Covering the NBA Draft has become his annual "dream come true" moment on the job. Irving has a soft spot for pass-first point guards, with Rajon Rondo and Steve Nash being two of his favorite players of all time.