By Drew Packham, NBA.com
LAS VEGAS – A rookie stole the show Thursday, taking over the scoring lead and proving his doubters wrong.
Point guard Damian Lillard, who many thought was a stretch for Portland with the No. 6 pick, scored 31 points (see more below) in the most captivating performance (and 84-78 win over Atlanta), and Kemba Walker finished off the night by leading the Bobcats to a 99-86 win over the Nuggets.
Walker scored 19 points with 10 assists and had his smile and swagger going in helping his ball-hawking Bobcats improve to 4-0 with the victory. Denver’s second-year swingman Jordan Hamilton continued his impressive play, putting up 21 points and nine rebounds in the setback.
Non-rookie of the day: Walker’s double-double was impressive, but for the second straight day Tobias Harris kept up his stellar play, notching another double-double (21 points, 12 rebounds) in Milwaukee’s 88-77 win over the D-League Select team. The Bucks’ sophomore looks polished and the big game follows his 24-point, 12-rebound showing on Wednesday. Other notables: Sacramento’s Jimmer Fredette closed out his five games with 19 points on just seven shots (4-for-7, 9-for-10 on FTs), while Lakers forward Christian Eyenga had 22 points to help L.A. get a win (its first) in its finale, beating the Clippers 75-69. Minnesota’s Derrick Williams also had a big game, scoring 23 points by getting to the line 16 times (making 11) to offset a 6-for-14 shooting night in the Wolves’ 75-68 win over Cleveland.
Rookie of the day: Lillard, Trail Blazers. The No. 6 overall pick continues to shine, putting up 31 points and seven assists in the Blazers’ 84-78 win over Atlanta. The Hawks had no answer for Lillard, who got to the rim at will and finished 11-for-22 from the floor. “I just want to win games,” said Lillard who says he always plays with a chip on his shoulder. “Not to say there aren’t real players here, but I know it’s a whole other level up in the NBA.” Other notables: Boston’s Dionte Christmas continued his solid Summer League, scoring 19 points with three steals in a loss to Sacramento, who got a double-double from Thomas Robinson. The KU product had his best game in Vegas with 16 points and 15 rebounds in the Kings’ finale.
Coming up: Four teams wrap up their Summer League action Friday: the Knicks, Cavs, Nuggets and Bobcats. Four games will be televised live on NBA TV: Knicks-Cavs at 4 p.m. ET, Grizzlies-Bobcats at 6:30, Bulls-Warriors at 8:30 and Mavs-Hornets at 10:30. Also showing on NBA TV replay: Nuggets-Blazers at 1 a.m. ET and Heat-Spurs at 4 a.m. ET.
Lillard has impressed me. Can we get LaMarcus Aldridge to the Summer League so we can just see ONE game with Leonard, Lillard, and Aldridge working as a unit? Cannot wait. SLMVP for sure.
Mitch… trade for Howard, Turkoglu and Richardson. Follow it up by doing an amnesty on Turkoglu. Problem solved
Cant amnesty players you traded for or signed from the start of free agency. Lakers wouldnt be able to amnesty Turkoglu
Adam Morrison is playing well…I think somebody should sign him
I really hope Morrison will be signed by someone. He deserves a shot, I think!
I hope the Hawks will get J. Taylor in their camp, will add the bench they need behind Jeff Teague and Devin Harris. Great tuteledge for Taylor !