The Chicago Bulls, via two clutch shots from Denzel Valentine, are the Las Vegas Summer League champions, going undefeated through the whole ordeal.
Minnesota Timberwolves 82 Chicago Bulls 84: After an up & down summer league experience for Valentine, the national player of the year in college basketball last season showed up in the fourth quarter to deliver the goods. He was 0-for-6 from the field through the first three quarters, but went 3-for-4 the rest of the way, scoring 7 points, including the two big baskets that gave the Bulls the summer title.
The first one sent the game into overtime, with the Bulls down by three points. A nice passing sequence while Valentine rolled around the perimeter behind a screen left him open, hitting a three pointer leaving no time for the Timberwolves to respond.
In overtime, it was a bit more of an individualistic effort, as Valentine hit a turnaround jumper at the buzzer to give the Bulls the 84-82 win.
Bobby Portis was once again the best players for the Bulls with 26 points, 10 rebounds, 4 steals and also 4 three pointers. Jerian Grant, who got better as the tournament progressed, finished with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists.
For the Timberwolves, it was another combination from Tyus Jones (27 points, 10 assists) and Adreian Payne, scoring 22 points to go with 16 rebounds. Tom Thibodeau was sitting courtside, in a game that was dubbed as the Thibodeau bowl, although the real one will happen during the regular season.
Portis had a very good tournament, and so did Christiano Felicio, scoring 12 points in the final. The Bulls have a pretty good young second unit with Portis hoping to get more minutes this season. The backcourt of Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo, assuming Jimmy Butler moves to the ‘3’, is going to have its struggles bordering inconsistency, but Valentine and Grant should form a pretty good backcourt duo for about 20 minutes a night.