2016 Summer League

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The Las Vegas Summer League ended yesterday with plenty of buzzer beaters, highlight reel-worthy plays, and a first look at the NBA’s newest crop of players. After a pair of big time shots from former Michigan State star Denzel Valentine, the Chicago Bulls took home the tournament title, defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves.

For the Denver Nuggets, their tournament run ended against the Phoenix Suns when former Kentucky point guard Tyler Ulis hit a three-pointer from the right wing as time expired. Denver finished the Las Vegas Summer League with an overall record of 3-2.

Despite the heartbreaker against Phoenix, both the Nuggets’ rookies and returning players turned in solid performances throughout Summer League play.

Emmanuel Mudiay and Gary Harris played in just the first game, but both showed their experience. Mudiay put up 23 points, eight rebounds, and six assists while Harris added 22 points, four rebounds, and two steals. With the pair leading the way, the Nuggets finished with a nice 88-82 comeback win against the Minnesota Timberwolves. They sat out the rest of the games in anticipation of their duties with the USA Basketball Select Team.

The Nuggets also saw excellent play out of Jimmer Fredette. In his first start in Summer League, Fredette dropped in 26 points and powered Denver to a 106-62 win against the Memphis Grizzlies. Fredette finished Summer League averaging 15.2 points, 3.2 assists, and 1.0 steals per game.

After starting out 2-0, the Nuggets sustained their first loss, 92-81, to the Miami Heat. Despite the loss, rookie Juan Hernangomez opened eyes with his mobility and all-around play. Hernangomez notched a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds, while also tallying five assists and two steals. He played in all five games in Summer League and averaged 10.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and shot 54.5% from the field.

Jamal Murray also impressed. One of his best games was against the Heat, scoring 29 points. Murray followed that up with another 20 point game in a victory against the Utah Jazz, with the Nuggets winning by exactly that many points. In his third straight game of scoring 20+ points, Murray added another 29 points against the Suns, grabbing a critical offensive rebound and putting in a layup to tie the game with 1.8 seconds left. While his shotmaking ability was evident early, Murray also showcased his passing by playing the point guard slot alongside Fredette.

Petr Cornelie started every game and was solid manning the middle for the Nuggets. In 24.6 minutes, Cornelie averaged 8.0 points, 6.8 rebounds (3.6 offensive), and a team-leading 1.2 blocks per game.

Overall, Nuggets general manager Tim Connelly is pleased with how the team is looking for the future.

“Our young core coupled with the return of [Wilson] Chandler and [Danilo] Gallinari... I like where we are.”

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2016 Summer League Recap

LAS VEGAS – The Denver Nuggets lost an 82-81 heartbreaker to the Phoenix Suns as Tyler Ulis hit a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer Saturday afternoon.

The game was tight with both teams unable to pull away by much in the second half. A jumper from Jamal Murray would tie the game with about half a minute left in regulation. Dragan Bender drew a foul on Mateusz Ponitka with less than two seconds left in the game but would miss both to send the game into overtime. Bender would finish the game with nine points.

In overtime, Murray hit a layup with 1.8 seconds to tie the game and finished the game with 29 points.

Jimmer Fredette continued to score the ball well adding 16 points, while Axel Toupane played with energy and nabbed five steals to go with 10 points and eight rebounds.

Juan Hernangomez had two follow dunks in the first quarter, taking advantage of the absence of Marquese Chriss and the lack of a body on him. He then showed off his passing chops with a nifty dish to Petr Cornelie for a big one-handed dunk.

The Nuggets started out slow, falling behind by seven about halfway through the quarter, but picked it up off the energy of their lengthy frontcourt. This was the start of a 16-0 Denver run that would carry into the end of the first period. The Nuggets took care of the basketball as well and did not turn it over at all in the quarter.

Denver was challenged in the second period, turning the ball over eight times. Phoenix used these opportunities and came right back behind the play of forward Troy Williams who scored 22 points in the game, including a couple three-pointers. Center Alan Williams scored 11 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, with 10 of those in the first half.

The Nuggets will finish the 2016 Las Vegas Summer League with a 3-2 record.

The Denver Nuggets fall by one point to the Phoenix Suns during their fifth and final 2016 Summer League game held at the Thomas And Mack Center in Las Vegas, NV.

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Game 5: Nuggets Fall One Point Shy in OT

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Summer League: Nuggets vs Suns

The Denver Nuggets now have a 3-1 record in the Las Vegas Summer League, including their first tournament victory against the Utah Jazz on Thursday. Denver will face the Phoenix Suns in a quarterfinal matchup at Thomas and Mack Center this afternoon.

Phoenix also comes into today’s game with an identical 3-1 record. The Suns’ lone loss comes against the Miami Heat, a team the Nuggets also fell to.

Headlined by big men Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss, and former Kentucky point guard Tyler Ulis, the Phoenix Suns have a versatile roster that can score in the paint and from the outside. Forward Alan Williams has also been a force in Summer League averaging a double-double with 13.0 points and 11.3 rebounds per game. Sharpshooter Devin Booker has played in two games, but according to Suns beat writer Paul Coro, Booker will sit out the rest of Summer League competition.

The Nuggets have a few weapons of their own.

Jamal Murray has played well In his first taste of NBA action, averaging 17.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists over four games in Las Vegas. Murray’s best performance came against the Miami Heat, where he scored 29 points using smooth ball-handling, a variety of athletic drives, and long-range jumpers.

Jimmer Fredette has also showcased an improved skill set. Fredette is averaging 15.0 points, 3.8 assists, and 1.3 steals in Summer League.

Juan Hernangomez opened plenty of eyes with his aggressiveness and versatility. Hernangomez is averaging 10.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game (2.5 offensive), and showed the ability to knock down the three-pointer as well.

Hernangomez, Petr Cornelie, and Ondrej Balvin will have to keep Bender, Chriss, and Williams off the boards. The Suns trio is averaging 26.3 rebounds in Las Vegas. Beyond that, Phoenix is crashing the offensive glass to the tune of 7.8 per game, so boxing out will be extra important to secure the defensive rebound. Murray and Fredette will matchup with Ulis, whose speed, scoring, court vision, and active hands make him a tough cover.

Tip-off will be at 4 p.m. MST and will be televised on ESPN2.

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Summer League: Nuggets vs Suns Preview

LAS VEGAS – The Denver Nuggets used a strong third quarter blitz to defeat the Utah Jazz, 80 – 60, Thursday night in the Las Vegas Summer League tournament.

Jamal Murray and Jimmer Fredette got off to a hot start, scoring 15 of the first 37 points for the Nuggets. Murray finished with 20 points while Fredette added 12 points, five rebounds, and four assists.

“I’m just getting better as the days go on,” Murray said. “I’m just trying to help the team win.”

Denver also used a balanced attack, with 11 players scoring at least a bucket.

Both the Denver Nuggets and the Utah Jazz came into the game with plenty of energy. But there were still some typical Summer League miscues, such as sloppy passing and unforced turnovers.

At the end of it all, the Nuggets stepped up when it mattered most.

Denver outscored the Jazz by 15 points in the third period and carried that momentum into the final period.

Aaron Craft, Shaquielle McKissic, and Dionte Christmas scored 10 points apiece for the Jazz. Joel Bolomboy had six points and eight rebounds.

The Nuggets will play the Phoenix Suns in a quarterfinal matchup on Saturday at 4 p.m. MST at Thomas and Mack Center.

The Denver Nuggets beat the Utah Jazz 80-60 during their fourth 2016 Summer League game held at the Thomas And Mack Center in Las Vegas, NV.

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Game 4: Nuggets In-Tune Against the Jazz

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Summer League: Nuggets vs Jazz

LAS VEGAS – The Denver Nuggets couldn’t withstand strong three-point shooting from the Miami Heat, ultimately falling 92 – 81 at Cox Pavilion on Monday night.

The game started close early on with both teams unable to pull away. Both the Nuggets and the Heat struggled shooting the basketball early, but a strong performance by Jamal Murray and a 15-4 run kept Denver ahead by five at the half.

Miami promptly made a push late in the third quarter with a 9-0 run and continued to shoot extremely well from behind the three-point line going into the final period. The Heat made 17 of 33 three pointers in the game.

Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 29 points while Juan Hernangomez continued a solid Summer League showing with 14 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists. Jimmer Fredette also played well for the second consecutive game tallying 18 points and three triples.

Rodney McGruder scored 23 points with five threes and Damion Lee added 17 points and five threes off the bench for the Heat.

The Denver Nuggets fell 92-81 to the Miami Heat during their third 2016 Summer League game held at the Thomas And Mack Center in Las Vegas, NV.

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Game 3: Nuggets Fall to the Heat

LAS VEGAS – Twice in two games the Denver Nuggets have used one monster quarter to pull away. This time, the Nuggets outscored the Memphis Grizzlies by 27 in the second quarter and used that to finish the game, 106 - 62, at Cox Pavilion on Saturday night. 

With Emmanuel Mudiay taking the night off, Jamal Murray got his first crack at being a starting NBA point guard, finishing with six points and four assists.

Two players in particular, came out trying to assert themselves early – Jimmer Fredette and Petr Cornelie.

“[I want to prove] I can still play,” Fredette said after the game. “I feel really confident in how I’m playing right now. I’m just trying to do anything I can to help the team win.” 

Fredette displayed his shot-making ability, dropping in 19 of his game-high 26 points in the first half. He shot 50% from the field and also added three assists, two rebounds, and four threes. Cornelie added 19 points and seven rebounds, continuing a solid Summer League showing.

Juan Hernangomez also continued his aggressive play, crashing the offensive boards and getting a nice steal early in the first quarter. With Fredette, Cornelie, and Hernangomez all playing well, it was a solid start for the Nuggets. However, the Grizzlies fought back with some good shooting and solid rebounding to the tie the game after one, but that was the closest they would get.

The Nuggets kept their foot on the gas pedal through the rest of the game and continued to pour in the buckets, finishing with eight threes and racking up 24 fast break points. Denver’s bench also contributed 39 points to the effort.

On the defensive end, the Nuggets were able to limit the Grizzlies’ Wade Baldwin IV and Andrew Harrison to 22.2% shooting and the Grizzlies to 31.5% overall.

Multiple players also got their first Summer League minutes this year, including local players Josh Scott, Antwan Scott, and Josh Adams, Antonio Barton, Darius Carter, and Ondrej Balvin.

Denver’s third Summer League game is on Monday night at 6:00p.m. MST against the Miami Heat.

Summer League: Nuggets vs Grizzlies Gallery

The Denver Nuggets defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 106-62 during their second 2016 Summer League game held at the Thomas And Mack Center in Las Vegas, NV.

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Game 2: Nuggets Tame Grizzlies

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