Must-see plays from Dexter Dennis, Ricky Council IV and D.J. Carton headline Thursday's Top 10 Plays.
Simply put, rookies came up big in Thursday’s action from the NBA 2K24 Summer League. Cam Whitmore of the Houston Rockets had a breakout game, all while showcasing dazzling athleticism. Kobe Bufkin’s clutch go-ahead jump shot to beat the Philadelphia 76ers and Jalen Wilson’s game-winning tip-in layup lifted the Atlanta Hawks to an overtime win. Even undrafted players like Craig Porter, Michael Devoe and Orlando Robinson turned heads during a memorable day of play in Las Vegas.
Cam Whitmore, Houston Rockets
Cam Whitmore drops in 26 points to power Houston past Golden State.
Whitmore had his best Summer League performance on both ends of the court. He tallied 26 points, a whopping eight steals, four rebounds and had several monster dunks in a 118-101 win vs. Houston. For Rockets fans, their wildest dreams came true when Whitmore dropped to the No. 20 overall pick in the Draft. Now the former Villanova Wildcat feels the game is slowing down for him at the right time.
Craig Porter, Cleveland Cavaliers
Craig Porter delivers 22 points in the Cavs-Bulls game from Las Vegas.
Porter logged 22 points, eight rebounds, six assists and was 9-for-15 overall as the Cavs beat the Chicago Bulls, 87-83. The undrafted 23-year-old from Wichita State may be trying to remind the Cavaliers that they made the right decision in giving him a two-way contract. Porter is set to play for the Cavaliers’ G League team next season, but his growth in Summer League and beyond could set him up for a role in the future with the NBA team.
Kobe Bufkin, Atlanta Hawks
Kobe Bufkin goes for 14 points in Atlanta's win on Thursday.
The No. 15 overall pick came up clutch for the Hawks with a go-ahead jump shot with 12.7 seconds remaining to give Atlanta a 99-98 win against the 76ers.
Kobe Bufkin for the Win!! pic.twitter.com/yJMZiWob4H
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) July 13, 2023
Bufkin came alive in the fourth quarter with 11 points as his squad entered the period down seven points. The 19-year-old rookie finished the game with 14 points and seven assists.
Jalen Wilson, Brooklyn Nets
Jalen Wilson reflects on his game-winning shot vs. Toronto.
Wilson powered the Nets to a 99-94 overtime win against the Toronto Raptors in overtime, finishing with 17 points, seven rebounds and one steal. Wilson, the No. 51 pick in the Draft, showed extra effort on the last play of the game by converting a tip-in layup to reach the target score. Overall, the 23-year-old has had a strong Summer League, and his shooting ability could help him earn some minutes in the Nets’ rotation.
Orlando Robinson, Miami Heat
Orlando Robinson sizzles with a 25-point night vs. Milwaukee.
Robinson powered a 91-72 win against the Milwaukee Bucks, recording a game-high 25 points as well as eight rebounds, four assists and two steals. Robinson was aggressive in scoring his points, finishing 9-for-12 from the free throw line as he continues to light it up in the Summer League (he had 36 points and 11 rebounds vs Boston on July 8). The undrafted 6-foot-10 forward may be of use for the Heat, whose player-development infrastructure is perhaps the best in the league.
Michael Devoe, Trail Blazers
Michael Devoe finishes with 18 points in a win against the Magic.
The undrafted Devoe had another great game for the Trail Blazers as the team’s top pick, Scoot Henderson, rested again. The 6-foot-4 guard totaled 18 points, six rebounds and two steals in an 88-71 win vs. the Orlando Magic. Devoe has continued his stellar play after holding his own against No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama on July 9. Although his future with Portland is uncertain at this point, his scoring performances in Summer League have been undeniable.
