From Down Under to way, way up.

Johnny Furphy flies into the Dunk of the Summer conversation.

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

July 15, 2025

Monday Unbeatens: Minix calls game, Knueppel shines, Hawks rally, Kings & Clips roll

Roundup: Buzelis balls out, Furphy throws down (twice), Heat trio dominates

Summer League Slam Vault: Reliving some of Vegas’ most jaw-dropping jams through the years

Playoff Push: Tuesday’s seven-game slate opens with a battle between unbeatens

Tuesday Nightcap: A potential clash of top six picks and more marquee matchups

BUT FIRST … ⏰

Day 6 of NBA 2K26 Summer League…

Seven more games tip off today in Vegas, including a matchup between standout rookies, as Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen lead the Pelicans against Yang Hansen and the Blazers (10 ET, ESPN).

Summer League Hub: Get the latest from Vegas, from news to standings, stats and more … all here.

1. STILL PERFECT: SPURS, HORNETS, HAWKS, KINGS & CLIPS IMPROVE TO 3-0

Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

As much as Summer League is a showcase for this year’s top draft picks, it is also for players like Riley Minix.

• After going undrafted in 2024, Minix signed with the Spurs as a free agent for Summer League and parlayed his play in Las Vegas and the preseason into a two-way contract
• His rookie season between San Antonio and its G League team in Austin was cut short due to a torn labrum
• Healthy again, he joined the Spurs for another summer run in Las Vegas, and had himself a defining moment on Monday night

Spurs 93, Jazz 91 (OT): After Kyle Filipowski’s game-tying dunk with 1.9 seconds left in OT, the Spurs had one shot to end the game or go to 2OT.

Harrison Ingram found Minix, who caught the pass on the baseline, turned and fired a fadeaway 19-footer that splashed at the buzzer, giving the Spurs the win and a 3-0 record in Las Vegas. | Recap | Fantastic Finish

• Scoring Duel: Utah’s Filipowski and San Antonio’s David Jones-Garcia entered the game as Summer League’s  first- and fifth-leading scorers. They both dropped their highest-scoring games in Vegas on Monday
• Filipowski kept rolling, posting a game-high 35 points, 11 boards and five 3s, while Jones-Garcia had a team-high 28 points with four assists and five 3s of his own
• Minix finished with 13 points, six boards, two blocks, two 3s and one game-winner
• Wemby In The House: Victor Wembanyama – who said he’s been cleared to return from a blood clot that ended his sophomore season in February – showed off his soccer skills courtside and met up with LeBron James

Garrett Ellwood + Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images

Hornets 87, Mavericks 69: Charlotte’s No. 4 overall pick Kon Knueppel turned up in his second Summer League game (16 pts, 10 reb, 4 ast, 3 3s), while KJ Simpson added 18 points and 7 dimes to improve the Hornets to 3-0 with a win over the Mavs. | Recap

Hawks 111, Rockets 108 (OT): After trailing by as many as 16 in the 3rd quarter, the Hawks rallied to force OT, where Kobe Bufkin knocked down three late free throws to seal the win, improving Atlanta to 3-0. | Recap

• Standout Scorers: Bufkin (25 pts, 6 reb, 3 ast) and Jack McVeigh (21 pts, 4 3s) each turned in 20-pieces for Atlanta, while Adonis Arms (24 pts, 7 ast, 3 stl) led the way for Houston

David Dow + Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

Kings 94, Suns 76: Sacramento closed the first half on a 21-5 run – with every point scored or assisted by its 2024 and 2025 first-round picks, Devin Carter and Nique Clifford – to break the game open and never look back, cruising to a 3-0 record in Vegas. | Recap

• Carter’s Unreal Buzzer-Beater: The game-changing run was capped by a running one-legged 3-pointer at the 1st half buzzer, giving the Kings a 17-point lead. Carter finished with 17 points, three assists, three steals and three 3s
• Rook’s Hot Night: Clifford posted a game-high 19 points on 7-of-8 shooting, including 3-of-3 from beyond the arc for the Kings, while sophomore Ryan Dunn led the Suns with 18 points

Clippers 67, Lakers 58: It was a battle of Los Angeles in Las Vegas as Jordan Miller (19 pts, 7 reb) and the Clippers edged out Bronny James (17 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast) and the Lakers to improve to 3-0 and remain in the hunt for the Playoffs. | Recap

• Miller Time: The 2023 second-round pick came up one point short of his third straight 20+ point game to open Summer League. At 21.0 ppg, he ranks 12th among all players in Vegas
• Family Affair: LeBron James was in the house with his wife and daughter to witness Bronny’s highest-scoring game of the summer so far. Plenty of his teammates were in the building as well to support the Lakers’ summer squad

2. ROUNDUP: BUZELIS BALLS OUT, HEAT FRONTCOURT FLEXES

Bulls 114, Pacers 105: Johnny Furphy brought the fireworks early for Indiana, hammering home a big one-handed tomahawk in the 1st quarter before topping it with a monster must-see poster in the 2nd.

But the Bulls got the win, as their 2024 and 2025 Lottery picks Matas Buzelis (28 pts, 8-14 fg, 5 reb) and Noa Essengue (21 pts, 7-14 fg) combined for 49 points, while Yuki Kawamura shined on both ends (15 pts, 10 ast, 3 stl), including dropping some highlight-reel dimes. | Recap

• Chicago Showtime: Watch Kawamura throw a slick no-look dish in transition to set up a Buzelis jam, before Javon Freeman-Liberty rises up for a poster of his own

Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images

Heat 100, Celtics 96: Boston had no answers for Pelle Larsson (24 pts, 6 ast), Keshad Johnson (22 pts, 4 ast) and Kel’el Ware (21 pts, 15 reb), while Erik Stevenson nailed a dagger 3 with 10 ticks left to secure the Heat’s first win in Vegas. | Recap

3. SUMMER LEAGUE SLAM VAULT

Johnny Furphy’s poster on Monday lit up the hoops world — and got us thinking: what are some of the best throwdowns we’ve seen in Vegas?

Below are five of the Starting 5 squad’s favorite Summer League slams, still rattling the rim.

2007: The high-flying Rudy Gay showed off his hops in Vegas with a nasty baseline reverse.

2012: The No. 6 overall pick out of Weber State, Damian Lillard made his mark in the desert with this emphatic poster – a preview of the fearless scorer he’d become.

2017: Before becoming a four-time All-Star and Finals MVP, Jaylen Brown made a splash in Summer League with this vicious two-handed hammer.

2019: Zion Williamson. One rip. One steal. One seismic slam.

2024: An epic back-scratcher from Alondes Williams – 362 days before Furphy’s poster.

4. TUESDAY HEAT CHECK: UNBEATEN DUELS & BREAKOUT BIDS

Garrett Ellwood + Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images

Today’s slate brings seven more games – and rising stakes.

With Playoff spots on the line, Tuesday opens with a showdown between two 2-0 squads, and features a host of top picks making their mark in Vegas.

Wolves vs. Pistons (4:30 ET, NBA TV): Three 2024 first-rounders take center stage in an early clash of unbeatens as Terrence Shannon Jr. and Rob Dillingham lead Minnesota against Ron Holland II and Detroit.

• TSJ Spark: Last year’s No. 27 pick, Shannon Jr. is stuffing the stat sheet this summer (22.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 6.0 ast) – building on his breakout series in the 2025 West Finals
• Dilli Dazzle: Dillingham (No. 8 pick) is averaging 15.0 ppg and 7.5 apg, drawing praise for his flair and confidence from NBA.com’s Shaun Powell
• Holland Heat: On the other side, Holland II (No. 5 pick) is posting 21.5 ppg while shooting 54.5% from 3 – including a 28-point outing on Friday

Nets vs. Knicks (6 ET, ESPN2): After a 30-point outburst in Sunday’s loss to the Wizards, Drew Timme will lead the Nets into a summer Battle of the Boroughs – with both teams seeking their first win.

• Brooklyn’s Big: A former All-American at Gonzaga and 2025 All-G League Second-Teamer, Timme ranks 2nd in scoring this summer with 26.0 ppg
• New York Groove: Like Timme, Kevin McCullar Jr. also dropped 30 on Sunday, and leads the Knicks with 21.5 ppg

Logan Riely + Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images

Thunder vs. Magic (6:30 ET, NBA TV): Only one player (the Jazz’s Isaiah Collier) is averaging more assists in Vegas than OKC’s 2024 Lottery pick Nikola Topić. Tonight, he’ll look to keep the Thunder unbeaten as they face the Magic.

• Topić Time: A crafty guard who missed last season with an ACL injury, Topić has flashed his versatility in the desert, posting 12.5 points. 8.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 42.9% from deep
• Magic Duo: Orlando’s also had two first-rounders shine in sophomore Tristan Da Silva (18.5 ppg) and rookie Jase Richardson (16.5), who are combining for 35 ppg

5. TONIGHT: FOUR MORE MARQUEE MATCHUPS

Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images

Raptors vs. Nuggets (8 ET, ESPN+/ESPN3): One of nine teams still unbeaten in Las Vegas, the Raptors put their perfect summer on the line when they face a Nuggets team still searching for its first win.

• From The 6: Toronto native A.J. Lawson has led the Raptors in scoring in each of their first two games while coming off the bench. The 8th-leading scorer (21.5 ppg) in Summer League is shooting 60% from the field and from 3
• Comeback Story: DaRon Holmes II – Denver’s first round pick in 2024 – suffered a torn Achilles in his Summer League debut a year ago. He’s back on the court, averaging 11.5 points and 2.5 3s on 60% shooting through two games

76ers vs. Wizards (8:30 ET, NBA TV): A potential matchup of top-six picks in this year’s Draft with Philly’s VJ Edgecombe (No. 3 overall) taking on Washington’s Tre Johnson (No. 6 overall).

• Vegas Debut? After a strong showing (28 pts, 10 reb, 4 ast, 2 blk) in the SLC Summer League opener, Edgecombe has been out with a thumb injury. Reports indicate he participated in Monday’s practice, but his status remains day-to-day
• Wizards Duo: Washington’s top pick each of the past two Drafts – Johnson (19.5 ppg, 58.3% FG, 45.5% 3P) in 2025 and Alex Sarr (15.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 5.5 bpg) in 2024 – have shined through two games

David Becker & Ryan Stetz/NBAE via Getty Images

Trail Blazers vs. Pelicans (10 ET, ESPN): Portland is a two-time Summer League champion (2018, 2022). Entering tonight’s game at 1-1, the Blazers are in must-win mode as they seek a spot in the Playoff and a run at an unprecedented third Summer League title.

• Two-Ways & A Rook: Caleb Love (18.0 ppg, 3.5 3pg) and Sidy Cissoko (14.0 ppg) – both on two-way contracts with the Blazers – lead Portland in scoring, while No. 16 pick Yang Hansen has dazzled in his first two games
• First Rounders: NOLA’s 2025 draftees – Jeremiah Fears (14.5 ppg) and Derik Queen (12.5 ppg, 11.5 rpg) – have both shown flashes through two games. Queen and last year’s 21st pick, Yves Missi (12.0 rpg), both rank top two in rebounding

Warriors vs. Grizzlies (10:30 ET, NBA TV): This matchup between 1-1 teams in Las Vegas will see one team stay in the mix for a Playoff spot with a win.

• Shooters Gonna Shoot: In Sunday’s win over Utah, Golden State’s Gabe Madsen caught fire from beyond the arc, hitting six 3s off the bench in the 1st half alone. In Las Vegas, he’s averaged four 3s per game on a sizzling 61.5% clip
• Grind Never Stops: Jaylen Wells (79), GG Jackson (77) and Cam Spencer (25) have a combined 181 games of experience with the Grizzlies’ main roster, but all three are back in Vegas to continue their development – they’re averaging a combined 50.0 ppg