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If you care more about the Golden State Warriors’ loss to the Philadelphia 76ers than Patrick McCaw’s dom performance, you're doing summer league wrong.
McCaw had 25 points including 5-for-10 shooting from 3-point range, but missed a game-winner at the buzzer in a 95-93 loss to the Sixers.
McCaw started the game as the Warriors’ lead ball handler and was aggressive from start to finish, hitting threes on spot ups and off the dribble — McCaw took full advantage of taking the court without multiple All-Star teammates.
Warriors lose summer league opener 95-93
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) July 9, 2017
-Patrick McCaw rims out game-winner, but finished with 25 points on 10/20 FG, 5/10 from 3, +14
Yet while McCaw’s dominance might have been expected given what we saw from him during his rookie season, Damian Jones’ game — particularly on the defensive end -- might have been the most significant development moving forward.
Jones finished with 13 points, 2 rebounds, 3 blocks and plenty more contested shots as he was able to bring his impressive athleticism to bear on the game. Jones really came alive in the second half when he had a couple of high flying blocks.
.@dameology doing work tonight in Las Vegas. #NBASummer pic.twitter.com/Z86v1tKnDz
— GoldenStateWarriors (@warriors) July 9, 2017
Similarly, rookie Jordan Bell was able to show off the energy he's know for on defense although his 8 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks might not fully do justice to the range of tools he displayed.
Jordan Bell first NBA points! #LetsGoWarriorsLive https://t.co/YpCTPVaEUm
— LetsGoWarriors (@LetsGoWarriors) July 9, 2017
However, as these games are entirely meaningless, the biggest news of the night happens to be injuries to players on both teams.
The big news of the night was the injury Markelle Fultz suffered while trying to block a shot in transition. Fultz was unable to put any weight on his ankle as he hopped off the court, but the Sixers announced late in the game that it was just a sprained ankle.
.@sixers fans can stop panicking.
— David J. Chao, MD (@ProFootballDoc) July 9, 2017
By video, appears to be standard low lateral ankle sprain. Looks bad, heals well. Common basketball injury https://t.co/ZsN03JafRq
Joel Embiid trusts the process, but even he can't believe what just happened to Markelle Fultz. https://t.co/XRPRPka8FI #76ers
— FanRag Sports NBA (@FanRagNBA) July 9, 2017
Surprisingly, it was after that point that the Sixers made a comeback and eventually won the game. But let's hope Fultz has a speedy recovery — he went down hustling to defend, which says a lot about the kind of heart this number one pick has.
Jordan Bell also quietly left the game late in the fourth quarter and didn't return. It's unclear what might have happened to him, but let's hope it's nothing serious.
Jordan Bell just headed to the locker room #LetsGoWarriorsLive #NBASummerLeague pic.twitter.com/XsgrPdoBPb
— LetsGoWarriors (@LetsGoWarriors) July 9, 2017
Jordan Bell is being re-evaluated, but no official word as to why he left the game early. @warriorsworld
— Alex Torres (@alextorresww) July 9, 2017
The Warriors will play their second summer league game on Monday evening.