The Portland Trail Blazers are your 2018 NBA Las Vegas Summer League Champions. I want Multnomah County just to drink that in for a minute.
Tuesday night’s Final was not a close one, with the Trail Blazers in control of the game for most of the time. Portland jumped out to an early 31-19 lead, and were led by KJ McDaniels, who eventually took home the championship game’s MVP honors.
On the other side of the floor, it was Summer League MVP Josh Hart who had been ejected in the fourth quarter. Portland’s largest lead was 24 points, and it was surely a frustrating night for the young Lakers Squad.
Via Twitter:
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) July 18, 2018
“Coming in, the goal is to win the championship. We went undefeated & we did it as a team” -@The_Fourth_Wade pic.twitter.com/DTragyTLS5
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) July 18, 2018
Full: @KJMcDaniels named @NBASummerLeague Championship MVP & interviewed after his 17p night!
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) July 18, 2018
@grdrive ➡️ @trailblazers #NBASummer pic.twitter.com/tn51RjAtvA
McDaniels led the way for Portland, finishing with 17 points, seven rebounds, and one assist on 57 percent shooting from the field. The Blazers had six players in double figures, and helped shut down LA from 3-point range, forcing them to shoot just 3-of-21 from deep.
Hart scored 12 points for the Lakers, and Los Angeles had just three players in double figures. As a team, LA shot 39 percent from the field during the 18-point loss.
This Summer League playoff win doesn’t quite make up for the 2000 Western Conference Finals between these two rivals, But Blazers fans have to be happy that their team at least got a sniff of a deep playoff run.
No doubt they will be partying on SE Division tonight.
