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While several top picks like Zaccharie Risacher and Stephon Castle weren’t in action on Friday for various reasons, other exciting rookies like Jared McCain and Ron Holland II showcased their skills on Day 8 of NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
The end of Summer League is just around the corner, so rookies are hoping to make an impression on fans over the coming days.
After Friday’s action, here’s a look at the results and a recap of some notable performances.
New York Knicks 91, Detroit Pistons 90
Chicago Bulls 103, Atlanta Hawks 99
Dallas Mavericks 101, Boston Celtics 90
Phoenix Suns 115, Milwaukee Bucks 90
Philadelphia 76ers 96, San Antonio Spurs 80
Toronto Raptors 109, Miami Heat 73
Golden State Warriors vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, 10:30 p.m. ET
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Charlotte Hornets, 11 p.m. ET
Ron Holland II Continues to Show Promise for Detroit
Ron Holland II has taken somewhat of a backseat to some of the bigger names in the draft, but the No. 5 overall pick has quietly impressed throughout Summer League.
He added to a string of impressive performances on Friday in the Pistons loss to the New York Knicks.
Holland had 20 points, six boards and a pair of blocks, continuing to show his two-way ability early on. The biggest concern so far with Holland has been his efficiency, as he’s struggled to hit shots at a consistent rate, but that should improve once he gets comfortable in the league.
After another solid outing, fans hyped Holland as he looks to help a struggling Pistons team.
Jared McCain Cools Down After Strong Start at Summer League
Jared McCain has been mostly solid so far at Summer League, but the Duke product struggled a bit against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday.
McCain finished with eight points and five boards, shooting a lackluster 3-of-13 from the field. The No. 16 overall pick also had a pair of turnovers.
After McCain’s struggles on Friday, fans questioned whether he will need some time in the G League before playing in the NBA.
Kel’el Ware Continues to Show Defensive Promise
The Miami Heat drafted Kel’el Ware hoping to get some additional support on defense. So far, it seems like he’ll be ready to give Miami just that.
The former Indiana star had 17 points, 10 boards and added four steals and a block, showing off his defensive abilities once again in Summer League.
The Heat likely won’t look to Ware to be a star right away, nor will they expect him to be a huge offensive threat, but throughout Summer League he’s proved that he’s capable of being a solid option off the bench.
After the Heat’s dominant win over the Raptors, fans once again praised Ware’s defense.
Ware and the Heat have played their last regular game of Summer League and will now begin preparing for the tournament, which starts on Sunday.