The Portland Trail Blazers opened the Donovan Clingan period with a manic, late-game comeback that fell simply brief in opposition to the San Antonio Spurs at Las Vegas Summer League.
The Blazers went down 77-83 to a Spurs squad, that includes Clingan’s UConn teammate Stephon Fortress, which already had two Summer season League video games underneath their belt.
The Jonah Herscu-led Blazers fought again from an 18-point three-quarter-time deficit to provide the Spurs some complications within the last three minutes.
Clingan’s personal efficiency was fascinating to observe. Regardless of struggling on offense, registering 4 factors on 1 of 8 from the sector, he was a power on the defensive finish, standing just like the Rock of Gibraltar underneath the basket.
His defensive instincts and verticality had been all as publicized and with a bit of seasoning he seems to have the instruments to be a power on that facet of the ball.
In 27 minutes, the seventh general decide completed with 13 rebounds, 5 blocks and a steal, trying each little bit of his 7’2 body. Fortress was the one Spur courageous sufficient to essentially take a look at the massive man and even he was met with one in every of Clingan’s late-game swats.
Rayan Rupert was the following finest contracted Blazer, registering 13 factors, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and a pair of steals. Kris Murray had 9 factors, 2 rebounds and a pair of assists, trying extra aggressive on the offensive finish.
Portland two-way contracted wing pair, Justin Minaya and up to date signing Bryce McGowens confirmed a couple of issues regardless of their 5 collective turnovers. Minaya put up 12 factors on 3 of 4 from three, 2 boards, 3 assists and 4 steals and McGowens had 8 factors on 2 of 5 from three, 2 assists and three steals.
The perfect of the Rip Metropolis Remix brigade was ahead Alex Reese who served because the Blazers’ solely offensive power in the course of the first half. He completed with 16 factors on 3 of 9 from three, 3 boards, 1 steal and a pair of blocks.
The Blazers return to the courtroom on Monday to face the Philadelphia 76ers.