Latest news with #ThomasAndMackCenter
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Memphis Grizzlies beat Yang Hansen-led Blazers as Ja Morant appears for summer league game
LAS VEGAS — Memphis Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo wasn't happy, believing the Boston Celtics played harder than his team on July 11. So for the Grizzlies' second summer league game, that couldn't happen again. The players accepted Iisalo's challenge against the Portland Trail Blazers and responded emphatically. Memphis (1-1) outhustled the Blazers (1-1) and earned a 96-86 win at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 12. Advertisement In a matchup that featured plenty of talent, the battle of the bigs was one to watch. Grizzlies big man Armando Bacot matched up against Chinese sensation and 2025 first-round draft pick Yang Hansen. Bacot finished with a double-double, with 12 rebounds to go with 14 points and four blocks. Yang ended the game with 10 points, five rebounds and one block. Here are three takeaways from the Grizzlies' win. More Grizzlies absences The Grizzlies have had a tough time with injuries in the 2025 summer league. They haven't had a game where the full roster has been available, and that continued on July 12. Advertisement GG Jackson was out due to an illness, a Grizzlies spokesperson told The Commercial Appeal. Zyon Pullin, Javon Small and Cedric Coward were also among the players unavailable against the Blazers. Memphis did get Jahmai Mashack back after missing action on July 11. He ended the game with four points, five rebounds and four assists. Cam Spencer, Jaylen Wells stats JA MORANT TALKS ROSTER CHANGES: Memphis Grizzlies' Ja Morant breaks silence on Desmond Bane trade, new roster additions The Grizzlies still had two other players capable of scoring in bunches. Cam Spencer got an extender opportunity as a ballhandler and playmaker, what with the growing list of guard absences. He finished with 17 points on 6-for-15 shooting. Advertisement Jaylen Wells struggled offensively for most of the night until the fourth quarter. The lack of a true point guard hurts Wells because he doesn't create most of his own offense, but he found a way as the game progressed. He finished with 23 points on 7-for-16 shooting and had seven rebounds. Ty Jerome, Ja Morant make appearances More Grizzlies players showed up to take in summer league action. Ja Morant and Ty Jerome made their first appearances at a Grizzlies summer league game. Scotty Pippen Jr., Zach Edey, John Konchar and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope also have been in attendance. Morant and Jerome's appearances are notable. Jerome is the Grizzlies' lone free agent signing to date, and Morant is one of the team's leaders. Advertisement The star point guard noted that his main reason for attending summer league was being visible for his teammates as a leader. What's next The Grizzlies have two days off before their next game on July 15 against the Golden State Warriors (9:30 p.m. CT, NBA TV). Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies summer league highlights, takeaways vs Blazers
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hoops And Slam Dunks Heat Up Las Vegas At NBA 2K26 Summer League
From rising rookies to slam dunk energy, NBA 2K26 Summer League in Las Vegas has been delivering nonstop action and unforgettable moments for days. I spent Monday at Summer League taking in all the action and excitement - from buzzer beaters to fan interactions to seeing NBA stars up close and personal. If you're on the fence about spending some time at Summer League, I'm here to tell you why you absolutely should plan a day to enjoy all the hoops action in Sin City. Advertisement NBA 2K26 Summer League runs July 10 to 20, with six to eight games per day before the finals on Sunday night. Dunks, Overtime, Impressive Plays, And More At NBA Summer League Evan Guerra NBA Summer League is a baller's dream come true. Multiple games per day for 10 days with Vegas as the backdrop - say less! Whether you just love watching basketball games, want to see the newest crop of future basketball stars in action, or love to be where the energy is high, NBA Summer League is calling your name. I recently spend a day at Summer League, taking in all the games, courtside excitement, and celebrity sightings, and I have some takeaways to share. Advertisement Watch The Games You Want Or Check Out All Of Them Evan Guerra With so many back-to-back games being played each day, you might be wondering how to pull that off. It is possible to catch a little of every game scheduled if you are strategic with it. The games have staggered start times with a game in each arena - Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion. The arenas are connected so it makes it easy to bounce over from one game to another so you can at least catch part of every game offered throughout the day. I spent the whole day at Summer League on Monday, arriving at 12:30 p.m. before the first game at 1:30 p.m., and didn't leave until about 9:30 p.m. Never thought I could sit in one spot for that long (with breaks to get food, go to the bathroom, check out any NBA photo opportunities) but I did it and the time flew by. Advertisement Monday's NBA Summer League Games Were High-Energy And Impressive Evan Guerra There were seven games scheduled on Monday. I caught four of them entirely and a few minutes of another one. I stayed in Thomas & Mack Center for Atlanta Hawks vs. Houston Rockets, Charlotte Hornets vs. Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz vs. San Antonio Spurs, and Los Angeles Lakers vs. Los Angeles Clippers. While I did catch Thursday night's matchup of the Mavericks vs. Lakers, I was a little disappointed that Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall 2025 draft pick, wasn't playing anymore Summer League games. I understand it, but I was looking forward to seeing him in action on the court one more time before the season begins. He was there though, so it was still cool to see him supporting his team. Advertisement Every game had something exciting going on - dunks, buzzer beaters, overtime, celebrities watching courtside. When I say it's action packed, it's really action packed! Utah Jazz Vs. San Antonio Spurs Game Had Fans Locked In For A Wild Game That Ended In OT Evan Guerra One of the wildest games I've seen in a long time, or maybe ever, was the Jazz vs. Spurs. Not to say the other games weren't fire, but this one had everyone in the arena screaming and jumping during the close game. I wasn't necessarily rooting for one team over the other, but a lot of fans obviously were, which made this even more exciting. A little friendly rivalry adds to the excitement, right? Advertisement This game went into overtime, and it only got wilder from there. In overtime, Kyle Filipowski of the Jazz made an impressive poster dunk to tie the game, but shortly after, Riley Minix of the Spurs hit a buzzer-beater to win the game 93-91. It was certainly a sight to see live! NBA Stars Were Seen Courtside Evan Guerra The games weren't the only exciting things happening at UNLV's Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion. Another exciting aspect of Summer League is seeing NBA stars and veterans roaming around courtside to check out the next generation of NBA stars in action. During my 9 hours in Thomas & Mack, I saw Victor Wembanyama, D'Angelo Russell, Brook Lopez, and the king himself, LeBron James, to name a few. Advertisement James was accompanied by his wife Savannah and their daughter Zhuri to watch Bronny James play with the Lakers. All eyes were on the James family as they sat courtside cheering Bronny on, as well as all eyes on Bronny as he was playing. I highly recommend spending a day (or more) at Summer League in Vegas. The energy is undeniable, and Vegas is the perfect backdrop for the nearly two-week long event. All ages of basketball fans can really appreciate the energy and excitement that Summer League brings to Vegas. Have you attended any of this year's Summer League? Did you see or meet any celebs or NBA stars? Have a story to share? Email me. NBA 2K26 Summer League continues to the finals on Sunday night at 7 p.m. PT. You can still get tickets. Be sure to check out their website for more information.
Al Arabiya
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
NBA Summer League hits Las Vegas, with Flagg vs. Bronny as Thursday's Day 1 centerpiece
Opening night at NBA Summer League in Las Vegas has turned into an annual spectacle, and this year will be no different. Cooper Flagg's debut is coming – against Bronny James, no less. Flagg, the No. 1 pick in this year's draft, and the Dallas Mavericks will open summer play Thursday against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers, always a huge draw in Las Vegas, have 2024 second-round pick Bronny James – the son of NBA scoring king LeBron James – on their summer roster. The game at UNLV's Thomas and Mack Center will be packed. Plenty of NBA players and personnel will be there. Some courtside tickets are being listed on the secondary resale market at more than $3,000 a pop. All this, mind you, for an exhibition game where the outcome is almost certain to be forgotten within a few days. 'I'm excited,' Flagg said. 'I've been in the gym with the guys, and I'm excited to just get out there, get back on the court, play some 5-on-5.' It will be a circus atmosphere for Mavericks–Lakers, and Day 1 of the full-fledged 30-team Summer League – other smaller summer leagues in Utah and California wrapped up earlier this week – is certain to be announced as a sellout. The scene will likely resemble what awaited Victor Wembanyama for his San Antonio debut in 2023 (hundreds of people gathered around the tunnel with their phones out to grab a photo or video of him simply coming out for warmups that night) or Zion Williamson's debut in 2019 with New Orleans – when an earthquake centered in California shook Las Vegas enough for play to be stopped early for the night. 'I just want to go out, show I've improved, show I've gotten better,' Flagg said. Some of what to know about Summer League: The schedule and format: It starts Thursday and runs through a championship game on July 20. All teams will play a four-game regular season, and then the top four teams will head to the playoffs for a semifinal game on July 19 and the title game one day later. The 26 teams that don't make the playoffs will be matched up for one last game, a consolation bracket of sorts. All teams will play at least five games in Las Vegas; the championship-game qualifiers will play six. Quarters are 10 minutes long instead of the usual 12 for NBA games. Nobody fouls out until they commit their 10th foul, instead of the usual six-and-you're-out rule. Overtimes are two minutes, not the usual five. The heave rule: In place for NBA Summer League: a rule that says players who take those end-of-quarter shots from really, really deep won't count against their individual shooting percentage. The so-called heave rule says any shot taken within the final three seconds of the first three quarters and is launched from at least 36 feet away on any play that starts in the backcourt will count as a team shot attempt – but not an individual one. Many players have avoided taking the miracle 50-footer or deeper shot at the end of quarters to protect their personal shooting percentages. The heave rule fixes that. As with many rule changes, it's getting tried out in summer leagues before likely being implemented as an NBA rule. It was used for the games earlier this month at the summer leagues in Utah and California. What to expect: If form from past years holds, don't expect the high draft picks – like Flagg, No. 2 pick Dylan Harper of San Antonio, No. 3 pick VJ Edgecombe of Philadelphia, and No. 4 pick Kon Kneuppel of Charlotte – to play in all five games for their teams in Las Vegas. It's not uncommon for those top picks to be shut down after playing a game or two. Edgecombe was dealing with a mild thumb contusion and missed the final two games of Philadelphia's three-game run in Utah. What else is happening: Think of Summer League in Las Vegas as the NBA's annual convention: A slew of players, coaches, agents, and executives are there for at least some of the event. It has grown steadily over the last 20 years, with no end in sight. There's also a Board of Governors meeting in Las Vegas early next week, and it seems likely that Commissioner Adam Silver will announce plans for the league to formally begin looking at expansion – though there is no guarantee that the NBA will ultimately decide to add teams.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBA Summer League hits Las Vegas, with Flagg vs. Bronny as Thursday's Day 1 centerpiece
Opening night at NBA Summer League in Las Vegas has turned into an annual spectacle, and this year will be no different. Cooper Flagg's debut is coming — against Bronny James, no less. Flagg, the No. 1 pick in this year's draft, and the Dallas Mavericks will open summer play Thursday against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers, always a huge draw in Las Vegas, have 2024 second-round pick Bronny James — the son of NBA scoring king LeBron James — on their summer roster. The game at UNLV's Thomas and Mack Center will be packed. Plenty of NBA players and personnel will be there. Some courtside tickets are being listed on the secondary resale market at more than $3,000 a pop. All this, mind you, for an exhibition game where the outcome is almost certain to be forgotten within a few days. 'I'm excited,' Flagg said. 'I've been in the gym with the guys, and I'm excited to just get out there, get back on the court, play some 5-on-5.' It will be a circus atmosphere for Mavericks-Lakers and Day 1 of the full-fledged, 30-team Summer League — other smaller summer leagues in Utah and California wrapped up earlier this week — is certain to be announced as a sellout. The scene will likely resemble what awaited Victor Wembanyama for his San Antonio debut in 2023 (hundreds of people gathered around the tunnel with their phones out to grab a photo or video of him simply coming out for warmups that night) or Zion Williamson's debut in 2019 with New Orleans — when an earthquake centered in California shook Las Vegas enough for play to be stopped early for the night. 'I just want to go out, show I've improved, show I've gotten better," Flagg said. Some of what to know about Summer League: The schedule and format It starts Thursday and runs through a championship game on July 20. All teams will play a four-game regular season, and then the top four teams will head to the playoffs for a semifinal game on July 19 and the title game one day later. The 26 teams that don't make the playoffs will be matched up for one last game, a consolation bracket of sorts. All teams will play at least five games in Las Vegas; the championship-game qualifiers will play six. Quarters are 10 minutes long, instead of the usual 12 for NBA games. Nobody fouls out until they commit their 10th foul, instead of the usual six-and-you're-out rule. Overtimes are two minutes, not the usual five. The 'heave' rule In place for NBA Summer League: a rule that says players who take those end-of-quarter shots from really, really deep won't count against their individual shooting percentage. The so-called 'heave rule' says any shot taken within the final three seconds of the first three quarters and is launched from at least 36 feet away on any play that starts in the backcourt will count as a team shot attempt — but not an individual one. Many players have avoided taking the miracle 50-footer or deeper shot at the end of quarters to protect their personal shooting percentages. The 'heave rule' fixes that. As with many rule changes, it's getting tried out in summer leagues before likely being implemented as an NBA rule. It was used for the games earlier this month at the summer leagues in Utah and California. What to expect If form from past years hold, don't expect the high draft picks — like Flagg, No. 2 pick Dylan Harper of San Antonio, No. 3 pick VJ Edgecombe of Philadelphia and No. 4 pick Kon Kneuppel of Charlotte — to play in all five games for their teams in Las Vegas. It's not uncommon for those top picks to be shut down after playing a game or two. Edgecombe was dealing with a mild thumb contusion and missed the final two games of Philadelphia's three-game run in Utah. What else is happening Think of Summer League in Las Vegas as the NBA's annual convention: A slew of players, coaches, agents and executives are there for at least some of the event. It has grown steadily over the last 20 years, with no end in sight. There's also a Board of Governors meeting in Las Vegas early next week, and it seems likely that Commissioner Adam Silver will announce plans for the league to formally begin looking at expansion — though there is no guarantee that the NBA will ultimately decide to add teams. ___ AP NBA:
