A pair of impressive efforts from forwards Jamil Wilson and Brice Johnson helped the Los Angeles Clippers coast to a comfortable 86-67 victory over the Utah Jazz in Las Vegas Summer League action on Sunday afternoon at Cox Pavilion.
The Jazz (0-2) actually looked like the dominant unit early on, jumping out to an 18-9 lead after one quarter. However, an offensive explosion by the Clippers (2-0) in the second quarter, which resulted in a 31-point period, easily erased the early deficit and set the tone for the rest of the contest. Los Angeles unsurprisingly dominated the stat sheet, posting a 50.8 percent success rate from the field (including 50 percent from three-point range) and an 83.3 percent figure from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, Utah only drained 35.7 percent of its 70 shot attempts (including just four of 19 three-point tries) and was outrebounded by a 35-22 margin.
Wilson, the former Marquette big man who has plenty of International, D-League and Vegas Summer League experience, led the way with 18 points, five rebounds and a block in just 16 minutes off the bench. Johnson, who averaged 15.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists in last year’s Orlando Summer League, chipped in with 14 points, six rebounds, an assist, two steals and two blocks. Former North Carolina standout Isaiah Hicks registered 10 points, a rebound and three blocks, while James Bell matched Hicks’ scoring total and added two assists and a rebound. Anthony Brown mustered a modest five points but complemented them with seven rebounds.
Tony Bradley, a 2017 first-round pick and another former Tar Heel, led the Jazz with 16 points, nine rebounds and one block. Devondrick Walker, who was impressive in the D-League last season while averaging 12.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists with the West Chester Knicks and Delaware 87ers, posted 12 points and a pair of steals. No other Utah player managed double digits in the scoring column, but Travis Leslie paced the bench with eight points, six rebounds and an assist. A 2011 second-round pick of the Clippers, the shooting guard has spent time overseas and played in the D-League with Fort Wayne last season. Last year’s second-round pick, Joel Bolomboy, tallied six points, five boards, an assist and a block.
The Clippers are back in action against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday evening, while the Jazz tangle with the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday afternoon.
