With Zion Williamson and Ja Morant out with injuries and R.J. Barrett struggling, the opportunity has presented itself for lesser-known players to get noticed during Las Vegas Summer League.
Chris Clemons, an undrafted rookie from Campbell, has made an impact. In a loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday, he scored 25 points on 9-for-20 shooting , made 7 of 13 3-pointers and launched his muscular 5-foot-9 frame for an alley-oop. The next day, he scored 22 points and made 5 of 11 3-pointers in a loss to Portland.
He ranked third overall in Las Vegas scoring after Sunday’s games – not bad for someone who wasn’t even invited to the draft combine.
”I know I can play with these guys at this level,” Clemons said.
He just needs one NBA team to agree.
Clemons achieved notoriety for his college scoring, leading the nation with 30 points per game this past season. He tied for the scoring title and won MVP honors at the Portsmouth Invitational in April, then earned an invitation to the G League Select Camp in Chicago in May. He was hopeful of moving on from there to the draft combine, though the invite didn’t arrive and no call came on draft night either.
So Clemons’ next audition – not just for the Rockets, but for all 30 teams since they’re all watching in Vegas – is coming in summer league.
Clemons’ scoring ability is not in doubt, but what likely caught some eyeballs was his explosiveness for an alley-oop off an inbounds back-door pass, his defensive ability with six steals in the first two games and committing only five turnovers in 49 minutes. He also hasn’t been afraid to mix it up defensively, even when in the paint against much bigger guys.
”I think everybody knows I can score,” he said. ”I need to show them the other facets of my game.”
While Clemons’ profile is rising, many better-known players have been quiet. Williamson, the No. 1 overall pick for the New Orleans Pelicans, is out for Summer League with a bruised left knee. He scored 11 points in nine minutes against New York, but took a knee-to-knee hit in the first half and didn’t play after the break.
Morant, the No. 2 overall pick for the Memphis Grizzlies, isn’t playing in Summer League after having knee surgery. Barrett, the No. 3 overall selection has played, but not well, for the New York Knicks. He averaged 9.0 points and shot 21 percent from the field in his first two games.
THUNDER 84, 76ERS 81, OT
The Thunder escaped after blowing a huge lead on Monday.
Oklahoma City (1-1) led by 31 in the second quarter and took a 52-26 halftime lead. The 76ers chipped away in the second half and outscored Oklahoma City 28-13 in the third quarter to trail 65-54 at the end of the period.
Oklahoma City led 80-79 with 14.3 seconds left when Kevin Hervey made a free throw to push the Thunder’s lead to two. Philadelphia’s Matisse Thybulle made a layup to tie the game with 10.6 seconds to go, leading to overtime.
Oklahoma City’s Luguentz Dort made a layup in the first 10 seconds of overtime for the only field goal of the two-minute extra period.
Philadelphia (1-2) could have taken the lead late in overtime, but Jalen Jones missed a 3-pointer and Oklahoma City grabbed the rebound. Oklahoma City’s Jawun Evans made the first of two free throws with 3.9 seconds left. Philadelphia’s P.J. Dozier missed a deep three at the buzzer that would have forced a second extra period.
KINGS 105, MAVERICKS 101
Milton Doyle scored 22 points and Kyle Guy added 19 to help the Kings rally after trailing by 15 points in the first half and 13 points in the third quarter.
Hollis Thompson and Semaj Christon both scored 15 points for Sacramento (2-0), which shot 50.6 percent from the field.
Cameron Payne scored 32 points for the Mavericks. He made 7 of 12 3-pointers and 7 of 7 free throws. Josh Reaves scored 18 points and Antonius Cleveland added 14 for the Mavericks (2-1).
It was a long game that included 32 fouls by the Mavericks and 30 by the Kings. Dallas made 23 of 33 free throws and Sacramento made 18 of 30.
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More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports
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AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds contributed to this report.
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