Tyus Jones scored a game-high 29 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves pulled away in the fourth quarter Sunday to defeat the Phoenix Suns 93-83 and advance to the championship of the Las Vegas Summer League.
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Yep, it’s that time of the year when the best highlight on a Saturday comes from the National Basketball Association summer league. Bobby Portis and Denzel Valentine paced Chicago with a combined 31 points and 19 rebounds in what eventually turned out to be a tight three-point victory while the aforementioned Eddie and Kelly Oubre Jr.
The victor faces the Minnesota-Toronto victor on Saturday in the summer league semifinals at 1 p.m.
Minnesota Timberwolves 81 Toronto Raptors 79: Sometimes the result is all that matters in these Summer League games, especially when the Toronto Raptors get robbed with a bogus call with 1.1 seconds remaining and the game tied, allowing the Timberwolves to poach the win.
But Ulis’ and Murray’s night highlighted what has been an excellent Summer League for the former Wildcat teammates. The Suns forced 16 turnovers and slowed the Nuggets in transition, allowing just four fast break points.
After trailing by double digits in the first half, the Timberwolves fought back after halftime.
The smallest man on the court came up with the biggest play of the game.
Kay Felder continued to impress with 22 points on 8-for-14 shooting as he pushes for a backup spot being Kyrie Irving. After averaging 10.0 points per game in the first two games, Murray averaged 26.0 points per game over the final three games. Sean Kilpatrick led the Nets with 25 points and Beau Beech dropped 15 points on five 3-pointers. Beech also had seven rebounds.
After the lottery pick missed two free throws at the end of regulation, it looked like he would cost the Suns the game. The Nets were shut out in overtime.
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The Cavs will play the Bulls in the semifinals Sunday.
