Fultz shines in a summer debut, Celtics do too
ORLANDO, FLA. » Boston’s Jayson Tatum opened the Utah Summer League and his pro career with a go-ahead basket to beat No. 1 pick Markelle Fultz and Philadelphia.
The game in Salt Lake City was the most anticipated contest thus far, as summer play heated up Monday with the Orlando Pro Summer League entering its third day and the Utah Summer League tipping getting started. The 24-team NBA Summer League in Las Vegas starts on Friday.
New York, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Dallas, Indiana and Miami were in action in Orlando on Monday. Boston, Philadelphia, Utah and San Antonio got going in Salt Lake City later on Monday.
A look at some of the action:
DAZZLING DEBUT
notable
Fultz played well on both ends of the floor and showed why the 76ers took him with the top pick they acquired from Boston.
“All the time, you hear me say it, it’s another chance for me to play basketball,” Fultz said before the game. “Now that it’s my job, it’s even more fun. I don’t have to worry about going to class. I don’t have to worry about anything like that. I just get working on my game and get ready to go out on the court and play.”
Fultz looked smooth on offense, playing both lead and off guard, but his defensive work may have been most impressive. Fultz finished with three blocks, including a weakside swat of Kadeem Allen that had the crowd gasping. He had 17 points on 6-for-16 shooting, including two 3-pointers.
“It has been great. I have been learning a lot. I am young, so I am trying to learn as much as I can. Just off the court, on the court, anything that people can give me. There are a couple of guys that played Summer League before, so I am asking them about how it is and how fun it is.”
Tatum was not overshadowed as the 6-foot-8, 208-pounder showed the versatility he’s known for and knocked down a pull-up midrange jumper with 5.7 seconds left. Fultz’s shot was blocked on the other end to end the game.
Tatum, the No. 3 pick, may have had the most awe-inspiring play of the night with a thundering, one-hand tomahawk dunk on Kaleb Tarczewski. He posted 21 points, seven rebounds, three assists and five steals.
“He kind of has this old soul,” Celtics coach Jerome Allen said. “This pro-like approach, doesn’t get rattled, doesn’t show a lot of emotions. Just kind of plays at his pace like he’s been here before.
“We can say it’s only Summer League, but he just made plays. He turned the corner, he was aggressive, he shared the ball, he
While all eyes were on the two rookies, 2016 No. 3 overall pick Jaylen Brown was hands down the best player on the floor and looked like he had no business playing Summer League games. He finished with 29 points.
As for Fultz, he was just glad to be back on a competitive floor.
“I’m happy. I haven’t played 5-on-5 in a long time,” Fultz said. “I know what it feels like not to play and I know what it defended and rebounded.” feels like to play. I’m just happy for this opportunity and I’m just going to go out and give it my all. It’s something that I have been doing since I was little. There are no nerves; I’m just more happy to be here.”
LEAF EXCELS
Indiana Pacers first-round draft pick T. J. Leaf showed that his impressive debut wasn’t a fluke by following that performance up with an even better second game in Orlando.
Leaf improved on Sunday’s 12-point debut by scoring 19 points and grabbing 10 rebounds to help lead the Pacers to an 86-83 win over Miami to move them to 3-0. The 6-foot10 forward from UCLA, who missed the Summer League opener on Saturday to attend a family wedding, showed some versatility with scoring on the perimeter and in the paint while converting 9 of 17 from the field in 28 minutes.
In a game that was easily the most heavily contested of the day in Orlando, it was the play of Joe Young, Chris Johnson and Leaf that allowed the Pacers to pull away in the final five minutes. There were four lead changes and the score was tied nine times. The Heat pulled within 84-81 with 23 seconds remaining before Young converted two free throws.
Young finished with 17 points and six assists, while Jarnell Stokes added 14 points and Johnson contributed 12.
Miami’s first-round pick Bam Adebayo led all scorers with 29 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in nearly 32 minutes.
COMEBACK MAVS
The Dallas Mavericks found themselves quickly in a 17-point hole against Orlando during Monday’s game.
But the double-digit deficit wasn’t much of a problem as the Mavericks recovered in the second quarter and then separated in the third quarter on the way to an 86-76 win. Dallas improved to 2-0.
Guard Dwight Buycks led the Mavericks with 20 points, while forward Brandon Paul added 18.
The Magic appeared dominant in the first quarter with No. 6 overall pick Jonathan Isaac leading the way with eight points. But Isaac injured hurt his hip on a collision in the second quarter and didn’t return in the second half to take away Orlando’s scoring punch.