LAS VEGAS — Even with all of the sports activities dignitaries in attendance and regardless that they had been watching a rivalry sport of types between the Lakers and Clippers, the followers contained in the Thomas & Mack Heart nonetheless had been principally enamored with Bronny James.
That’s the type of drawing energy James had even along with his dad, LeBron James, watching once more from his baseline seats. That’s the type of draw James had even with Steve Ballmer, Tyronn Lue, JJ Redick and Rob Pelinka in attendance.
Even with Austin Reaves, Deandre Ayton and Kawhi Leonard wanting on, Bronny James was the focal point but once more.
James had one in every of his higher NBA Summer season League video games, nevertheless it was the Clippers who got here out on prime in a 67-58 win Monday night time at Nevada Las Vegas.
James had 17 factors, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in 24 minutes and 17 seconds.
He was six for 10 from the sphere and three for 5 from three-point vary.
And, sure, he was completely happy to have the assist of his household and teammates.
“It definitely gave me a little boost, seeing them cheer for me and my teammates,” James mentioned. “It’s great to get in the gym with them.”
The star of the night time was Clippers ahead Jordan Miller, his 19 factors and 7 rebounds a giant cause why the Clippers are 3-0 in the summertime league.
His three-pointer late within the fourth quarter gave the Clippers a lead they by no means misplaced. He scored 9 of the Clippers’ final 11 factors.
“We got it done,” mentioned Clippers assistant coach Jeremy Castleberry, who’s the staff’s summer time league coach. “We got it done. We did what we needed to do, the second night of a back-to-back. For a lot of those guys, it was the first back-to-back they played in a long time. So, happy we got it done.”
James began robust, taking pictures a three-pointer to open the scoring. He added a step-back three within the second quarter, these two photographs being a part of his 12 first-half factors on four-for-four taking pictures.
He made a three-pointer within the fourth quarter that tied the rating 51-51.
“Yeah, I can see growth, for sure,” James mentioned. “Honestly, I just feel like my confidence is growing over the last year and a half or so. So, I’m just going to grow on that and keep my mind right.”
The Lakers shot 34.4% simply from the sphere, 30% from three-point vary and 38.5% from the free-throw line (5 for 13). In addition they turned the ball over 19 instances.
Lakers assistant coach Lindsey Harding mentioned the staff confirmed indicators of “fatigue,” which she anticipated contemplating it was their sixth summer time sport (they performed three video games on the California Basic in San Francisco).
“It just seemed like we didn’t have much pop,” mentioned Harding, the Lakers’ summer time league coach.
However not James. He appeared energized the whole sport.
“Bronny came ready. He came ready. He had the spark,” Harding mentioned. “You want these guys, especially him in that position and who he’ll be with us with the Lakers, when you get your minutes, go hard. Play until exhaustion, we’ll take you out and then we’ll put you back in. I thought that he did that today.
“He did a great job, even on the offensive end in finding players, making reads on pick-and-rolls. I think they struggled guarding him and he did a great job on the defensive end.”
However James wasn’t the one one who received the followers excited.
Clippers rookie Yanic Konan Niederhauser threw down a nasty dunk on Cole Swider within the third quarter, which introduced the gang to its toes.
Niederhauser had one other robust outing for the Clippers with 10 factors, two rebounds and two steals in 23 minutes.
