featured-image

Summer League Scouting Report | Wolves vs. Bulls

8 p.m.

Thomas And Mack Center

Where To Watch: ESPN2

The Minnesota Timberwolves are hoping their fascinating run in the Summer League Tournament ends with a championship. 

Minnesota earned the 24 seed (last) after going 0-3 in the preliminary round. Since then, the Wolves have rattled off wins in four straight tournament games and now they find themselves in the championship.

Now the Wolves will have their final test against No. 2 Chicago. The Bulls have yet to lose in Summer League, sitting at 6-0. 

A few tidbits going into tonight’s game:

  • The Bulls have plenty of true NBA talent on their Summer League roster, including Spencer Dinwiddie, Jerian Grant, Bobby Portis, Denzel Valentine and Cristiano Felicio. That team right there probably could have beat the 76ers two years ago.
  • Wolves forward Adreian Payne is averaging 14.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
  • Coty Clarke has given the Wolves impressive minutes off the bench. In seven games, Clarke has played 23 minutes per game and is averaging 8.4 points and 4.4 rebounds. He’s struggled shooting in his last two games, though. He’s a combined 6-for-22 from the field and 2-for-9 from the 3-point line. 

Last Game 

The Wolves are coming off a 93-83 win over the Phoenix Suns on Sunday evening. Tyus Jones was spectacular again, finishing with a game-high 29 points to go with six assists. Payne added 18 points and 10 rebounds, the game’s only double-double. Scott Suggs and Clarke added 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Minnesota outrebounded Phoenix 41-36.

The Bulls are coming off of an 85-79 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday night. Six players hit double-digits for Chicago.

Felicio led the way with 18 points and six rebounds. Valentine added 13 points and eight rebounds, but shot just 5-for-14 from the field. Grant, acquired in the Derrick Rose trade, also scored 13 points. Portis finished with 16 points and nine rebounds. Dez Wells and Dinwiddie added 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Chicago came away with the win despite shooting just 28-for-77 (36.4 percent) from the field.

Key Matchup: Tyus Jones vs. Denzel Valentine 

Jones was named Summer League Tournament MVP on Sunday night and rightfully so. The former NCAA National Champion is averaging 19.4 points, 6.3 assists, four rebounds and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 45.7 percent from the field, 44.4 percent from the 3-point line and 85.1 percent from the free-throw line in Summer League.

He will probably matchup defensively against Grant, but all the attention will be on Jones and another big-time college player. 

Valentine, the No. 14 pick in the 2016 Draft, is averaging 12.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists in six games. In his last two games, he’s shot 7-for-14 from the 3-point line.

Projected Starters:

Bulls: PG- Grant, SG – Valentine, SF – Wells, PF – Portis, C - Felicio

Wolves: PG- Jones, SG – Silas, SF – Suggs, PF – Thomas, C - Payne