NBA Summer League Playoffs Preview: Second Round

(photo credit: usatoday.com)

The second day of the NBA Las Vegas Summer League playoffs again features eight games, with teams vying for a spot in the quarterfinals.

The second round will start with the Warriors taking on the top seeded Raptors. Toronto has been led by sophomore guard Norman Powell out of UCLA, who is averaging 21.7 points per game which is eighth in the summer league. Golden State has been led by Keifer Sykes, a sophomore guard out of Green Bay who played mainly for the Austin Spurs D-League team last season.

Next the Timberwolves face the eighth seeded Grizzlies. Minnesota has been led by the fifth pick in the 2016 NBA Draft Kris Dunn, who is averaging 24.0 points per game, third in the league. The Grizzlies, much like their NBA squad, has been focused on team play and distribution of points, with four players averaging between ten and 14 points per game.

In the day's third match-up, the Heat come into their game against the Suns fresh off a victory over the Pelicans. The Suns have been one of the highest scoring teams in the summer league, and have been led by sophomore guard Devin Booker, who finished fourth in the 2016 rookie of the year voting. The Heat have been one of the leagues lowest scoring teams and are led by Rodney McGruder who is averaging 12.8 points per game.

In the fourth game of the second round, the Denver Nuggets are taking on the Utah Jazz. Denver has been led by the combination of Emmanuel Mudiay and Gary harris, who are averaging 23.0 and 22.0 points per game respectively. The Jazz are led by Tyler Lyles, who is leading the Las Vegas league with 29.0 points per game.

The 14th seeded Cavaliers are matched up against the third seeded Lakers, who is led by sophomore guard D'Angello Russell. Then, in a match-up of two of the worst 2015-2016 NBA teams, the 76ers take on the Nets. Neither team has a player who is averaging above 14.0 points per game.

The seventh game of the day consists of the Atlanta Hawks versus the Washington Wizards. The Hawks have six players between 9.5 and 15.5 points per game, while the Wizards are led by Kelly Oubre Jr., a sophomore forward out of Kansas who is averaging 19.0 points per game.

The final matchup of the day has the Mavericks facing off against the second seeded Bulls. The Bulls have been led by sophomore forward Bobby Portis out of Arkansas, who is averaging 14.3 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.

Games start at 4 p.m. ET on NBA TV and 4:30 p.m. ET on ESPN 2.