Clarke stakes Grizzlies to summer league crown

LAS VEGAS — Brandon Clarke had 15 points and 16 rebounds to lead the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies to a 95-92 victory Monday over the third-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves in the championship game of the NBA summer league.

Clarke, who was named overall MVP for the summer league, also had three blocks and four assists to earn MVP honors for the championship game, too.

The Grizzlies, who led by as many as 17 points, led by only two after three quarters, but got a boost from Grayson Allen, who scored 10 of his team-high 17 points in the second half and deflected the ball away to keep Minnesota from taking a last-second shot.

Bruno Caboclo and Dusty Hannahs also had 15 points each for the Grizzlies, while Tyler Harvey added 12 points and five assists.

The Timberwolves, who entered as the league’s lone undefeated team, clawed their way back into the game behind the hot hand of Kelan Martin, who drained three 3-pointers in the third quarter. Minnesota cut Memphis’ lead to one point six times.

Martin led five Timberwolves in double figures, finishing with a game-high 19 points.

Jordan Murphy scored 14, Mitchell Creek had 13, Barry Brown Jr. chipped in 12 and Keita Bates-Diop finished with 10 for Minnesota.

Credit: Source link