Game one saw the Philadelphia 76ers defeat the San Antonio Spurs 65-61. The star of the game was Philadelphia forward Louis Amundson who scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. 76ers guard Louis Williams scored 19 in the game while guards James White and C.J. Watson scored 13 apiece to pace San Antonio.
In the second game of the afternoon the Seattle SuperSonics and super draft pick Kevin Durant faced off against the Dallas Mavericks. Durant got off to a shaky start, missing all of his shots in the first quarter as he succumbed to the typical rookie urge to rush all of his moves. He dominated the final three periods, however, ending up with 18 points overall. His moves were incredibly quick and fluid. Defenders had a hard time guessing which direction he'd spin. He was less successful holding position in the low block and was getting pushed around by most everyone the Mavericks sent against him. Fellow first round pick Jeff Green played with confidence and Julius Hodge posted a double-double for the Sonics. Dallas' dynamic backcourt duo of Jose Juan Barea and Maurice Ager dominated the court for most of the game. Both players used quickness to devastating effect. Ager scored 17 while Barea chipped in 14 points and 9 assists. The Mavericks won 77-66.
The third game pitted the Memphis Grizzlies versus the national team of China. Sixth overall draft pick Yi Jianlian is playing for the Chinese National Team rather than the Milwaukee Bucks who drafted him. He quickly proved himself the most surprising big man of the day, scoring 23 points on an array of fluid mid-range moves. Yi has size, grace, and great speed for a big man and looks so far to be a smart draft pick if the Bucks can get him to sign with them. Fellow Chinese big man Wang Zhizhi scored 27 to lead the team but his shots were of the variety made easily in summer league, but not even attempted in the NBA because of defensive pressure. Rudy Gay turned in an impressive performance for the Grizzlies, scoring 21 points and grabbing six rebounds. Tarence Kinsey was right on his heels with 20. The Grizzlies outran their opponents and won handily, 86-77.
The Portland Trail Blazers faced the Boston Celtics in the nightcap contest. The Blazers featured an impressive frontline of 2007 first overall pick Greg Oden and 2006 second overall pick Lamarcus Aldridge. The Celtics countered with a confident backcourt corps of Rajon Rondo and Gerald Green plus forward Leon Powe. Oden's debut was inauspicious. He collected 10 personal fouls, a trait shared by many of the best big men on this day. He did manage a couple of spectacular plays: an authoritative blocked shot and a rim-destroying putback jam. The star of the game, and of the day, however, was Aldridge. He shot 10-for-17 from middle and close range en route to 26 points and 11 rebounds. The Celtics took advantage of the Blazers' porous perimeter defense all evening. Green scored at will, finishing with 14 points. Powe led the Celtics with 19. In the end the Celtic smalls buried the Portland bigs 74-66.
As is typical of Summer League, players with quickness prospered. It is the one defining factor separating the haves from the have nots here. This highlights the danger of inferring too much from Summer League performances, as the overall speed level rises exponentially in the Big Show. However, several players staked an early claim to belonging in the league and a few - Durant, Gay, Yi, and Aldridge - showed that they have a chance to make an impact.
