The Minnesota Timberwolves and Memphis Grizzlies will lock horns in the Summer League championship game after both teams punched their ticket on Day 10 in Las Vegas.
Here's how both semi-finals went down:
Memphis Grizzlies 88, New Orleans Pelicans 86 (OT)
It went right down to the wire between the Grizzlies and Pelicans for a place in the championship game, needing an extra period to split the teams.
The Grizzlies were in control after three quarters, leading by 10 points, before the Pelicans opened the fourth quarter on a 16-6 run to steal the momentum. In the final 20 seconds, buckets from Trevon Bluiett and Javon Bess looked to have sealed the win, before Memphis' Tyler Harvey pulled up for three to send the game into OT.
🚨 TYLER HARVEY SENDS IT TO OT 🚨@EWUMBB ↗️ @MemphisHustle ➡️ @memgrizz #GLeagueAlum @YoungTRaaw pic.twitter.com/2fYopWbO0u
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) July 14, 2019
It remained tight in the extra period, before no. 21 overall pick Brandon Clarke gave the Grizzlies the lead with a two-handed dunk out of the pick-and-roll with just 10.7 seconds remaining. The Pelicans had a chance to win it, but turned the ball over on the final posession to give the ball and the game to Grizzlies.
Game-tying triple, go-ahead dunk, OVERTIME & more...
— NBA (@NBA) July 15, 2019
What a finish between the @memgrizz / @PelicansNBA in the @NBASummerLeague Semifinals! #NBASummer pic.twitter.com/mlhbmlVuqY
Clarke led the Grizzlies with 23 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists and a block on 7-of-10 shooting from the field, while the Pelicans had four players score in double figures led by 16 points from Trevon Bluiett and 14 apiece for Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Marcos 'Didi' Louzada Silva.
23 PTS | 7/10 FG | 14 REB@brandonclarke23 leads the @memgrizz to the Semifinals victory! @NBASummerLeague Championship is Monday 9pm/et on ESPN2. #NBASummer pic.twitter.com/LvCsRJAJdg
— NBA (@NBA) July 15, 2019
Minnesota Timberwolves 85, Brooklyn Nets 77
Big man Naz Reid was unstoppable in the second semi-final, scoring 20 points in 19 minutes to lead the Timberwolves into the championship game.
Reid shot 6-of-12 from the field, adding seven rebounds and three blocks on the night.
20 PTS | 6 REB
— NBA (@NBA) July 15, 2019
Naz Reid leads the @Timberwolves to the @NBASummerLeague Semifinals victory! #NBASummer pic.twitter.com/5ALrIrgjem
After a slow start, the Wolves rallied to take a seven-point lead into half-time, before blowing the game open with a dominant 24-11 third quarter.
Jarrett Allen kept the Nets in it with a strong first half, recording 15 points and 14 rebounds, before exiting the game in the third quarter with a left hip contusion after a hard fall.
Jarrett Allen is out for the rest of the game with a left hip contusion after taking this hard fall. pic.twitter.com/xj24dVDUtL
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 15, 2019
Brooklyn mounted a late comeback, thanks to some stifling defence in the fourth quarter, holding the Timberwolves to just eight points, but the deficit proved too large to overcome.
Jordan McLaughlin chipped in 12 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists for the Timberwolves, while Aussie Mitch Creek added 11 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists.
🇦🇺 @CreekMitchell and the @Timberwolves advance to the championship game after an 85-77 win over the @BrooklynNets #NBASummer
— NBA Australia (@NBA_AU) July 15, 2019
📊 11 PTS | 3 REB | 3 AST | 1 BLK pic.twitter.com/aJR0y6MBYx
The Timberwolves will take on the Grizzlies on Tuesday at the Thomas and Mack Center.
