Miami Clinches First Summer League Championship with Thrilling Overtime Victory
In an electrifying display of resilience and determination, the Miami NBA Summer League team captured their first ever Summer League championship, eking out a narrow 120-118 overtime win against the Memphis Grizzlies. The intense showdown, held under the bright lights of the summer's premier basketball event, not only rewrote history but also showcased the raw, unfiltered talent inherent in the league's rising stars.
Overtime Excellence
The game, which set a new benchmark for high-scoring finals, saw both teams tied at 118 points at the end of regulation, necessitating an overtime period to crown a winner. Under Summer League overtime rules, the contest's climax depended on the first team to reach a target score of 120 points. Pelle Larsson, who finished the game with 16 points for Miami, scored the decisive basket in overtime, ensuring his team’s historic triumph.
"Coach [Dan Bisaccio] drew up a great play we've run in practice a bunch of times. They did a good job guarding it. We have shooters everywhere and they want to help, and I just made it," Larsson remarked, highlighting the synergy and preparation that went into this landmark victory.
Record-Breaking Finale
This championship game will be remembered not just for its nail-biting finish but also for setting a new standard in Summer League finals history. The previous scoring record, held by the Los Angeles Lakers' 110-98 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in 2017, was emphatically surpassed. Moreover, this was only the second time a Summer League championship game extended into overtime, the first being the Chicago Bulls’ 84-82 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2016.
Leading Miami’s offensive onslaught was Josh Christopher, who tallied 24 points. Supporting efforts came from Kel'el Ware, who notched a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds, Alondes Williams, who added 21 points, and Cole Swider with 19 points. Ware's performance was particularly noteworthy, earning him a spot on the Summer League first team. Williams, reflecting on the game, credited the collective spirit of the team: “Their willingness to fight through the adversity showed real grit, toughness and of course that competitive will.”
Grizzlies' Valiant Effort
The Memphis Grizzlies were led by a phenomenal effort from Jake LaRavia, who scored a game-high 32 points. Scotty Pippen Jr. was instrumental with 29 points and 11 assists, while GG Jackson added another 28 points to the scoreboard. Jackson’s late-game heroics, including a game-tying three-pointer with just 10.5 seconds remaining in regulation, exemplified Memphis’s fighting spirit. However, Pippen’s missed three-pointer in the waning seconds of regulation meant the game stretched into the thrilling overtime.
Despite the loss, the Grizzlies’ performance didn’t go unnoticed. Their ability to push Miami to the brink underlined their competitive mettle. "The Grizzlies made it tough for us. That just speaks volumes to this team," acknowledged Miami's coach Dan Bisaccio, commending the opposition’s relentless performance.
Jalen Wilson Named MVP
Beyond the championship, individual accolades were also handed out. Brooklyn Nets forward Jalen Wilson was honored as the Summer League MVP, having averaged 21.8 points and 4.6 rebounds per game throughout the tournament. His impressive shooting percentages—47.3% from the field and an astonishing 55% from beyond the arc—earned him a deserving spot on the Summer League first team, along with GG Jackson, Scotty Pippen Jr., Kel'el Ware, and Jordan Miller. The second team featured other standout performers like Bub Carrington, Donovan Clingan, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Jarace Walker.
In the end, this high-octane summit not only crowned a new champion but also set the stage for an exciting future. For Miami, their first Summer League championship symbolizes a bright chapter ahead, fueled by young talent and indefatigable spirit. And for the rest of the league, the bar has been significantly raised, promising even fiercer competition in the seasons to come.