NBA Summer League 2016: Lakers Top 76ers In Thriller
By Alex Vejar
The Lakers won a thriller against the 76ers in their second game at NBA Summer League thanks to D’Angelo Russell’s heroics
D’Angelo Russell’s veins still run ice cold.
On the second night of the NBA Las Vegas Summer League, the Los Angeles Lakers second-year point guard drained a long three with just over one second left in the aciton, lifting LA to its second win in as many days of Las Vegas Summer League, this one against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Russell finished the night with 22 points, five assists and four rebounds on the night on 8-20 shooting. Second-year forward Larry Nance Jr. scored 13 points and brought down eight rebounds.
When ESPN’s J.A. Adande asked Russell to take him through the last play, Russell said frankly, “I played like s***,” crediting the play of his teammates that gave him the opportunity to make the game-winning shot.
Rookie and No. 2 pick Brandon Ingram struggled in Game 2 of Summer League, scoring only seven points on 3-12 shooting.
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It wasn’t all sunshine for the Lakers on Saturday, though, leading up to the game-winner. The Lakers didn’t look like they’d pull out a victory with how they played throughout. In much of the second quarter, LA trailed by double digits, falling behind by 16 points at one point.
But late in the third quarter, the Lakers—led by Russell—closed the gap. With 19 seconds left in the third, Russell made a 3-pointer to the cut the Philadelphia lead to just six, overcoming struggles in the first half.
After a first half that had very little flow, the fourth quarter proved exciting, with both the Sixers and the Lakers trading buckets.
Down by two late in the final stanza, Russell hit a jumper to tie the game at 67. While he celebrated the bucket, Sixers guard T.J. McConnell raced down the floor and converted a layup for a 69-67 lead over the Lakers.
The Lakers then took a timeout, setting up the out-of-bounds play in which Russell received the pass and made the game-winning shot.
Ice in his veins.
The Lakers are now 2-0 in Summer League play and, although Ingram didn’t have a good game, Russell and Nance showed they can play with poise and finish quarters and games. Things are looking up for LA, at least for the rest of Summer League.