The 2023 Las Vegas Summer League got underway on Friday with some exciting action. All four of the 2023 top-four NBA draft picks were on the court yesterday. No. 1 pick Victor Wembamyama made his summer league debut. While Wembamyama was dominant on the defensive end, the 19-year-old has a long way to go offensively. No. 2 Brandon Miller also took center stage and played way better than he did in the California Classic though he struggled from the field, hitting just 5 of 15 shots. No. 3 selection Scoot Henderson and No. 4 pick Amen Thompson both had fantastic summer league debuts. However, Henderson left his contest with a right shoulder injury, while Thompson tweaked his left ankle.
2023 Las Vegas Summer League: Preview, Odds, and Prediction For Session I (July 8)
There are eight games on top for Day 2 in Vegas. The Miami Heat and Boston Celtics, along with the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder, take center stage in Session I.
Miami, which went 1-1 in Sacramento earlier this week, and Boston are first up. The Heat and Celtics are set to tip at 3 p.m. (ET) at Cox Pavillion, with the game on NBA TV. The Heat are -2-point favorites, while the Over/Under is set at 183.5 points. The Heat are -130 on the money line, and the Celtics are +110.
Dallas and Oklahoma City will play at the Thomas and Mack Center. Tip is at 3:30 p.m. (ET) on ESPN 2. The Thunder are -4.5 point favorites, with the Over/Under set at 188.5 points. The Thunder are listed at -195 on the money line, and the Mavericks are at +160.
Odds are courtesy of DraftKings.
Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics, 3 p.m. (ET), Cox Pavilion, NBA TV
Miami is playing for the third time this summer. The Heat beat the Lakers and lost to the Kings in the California Classic.
Miami averaged 95 points and allowed 92.5 points over the first two games. The Heat shot 47.8% from the field and made 11 triples at a 43.5% clip. They also connected on 80.9% from the free throw line. Miami also grabbed 33.0 rebounds (6.5 offensive), doled out 20. 0 assists, and committed 17 turnovers.
Nikola Jovic was sensational in Sacramento. Jovic averaged 21.5 points and 5.5 caroms while compiling a shooting slash line of .520/.556/.800. Jaime Jaquez Jr. had a strong opening game, but he struggled a bit in game 2. While Jaquez had difficulty in game 2, Jamal Cain stepped up after not playing in the opener, Cain, who made 17 appearances for the Heat last year, totaled 17 points, on 7 of 10 shooting, and six rebounds in the loss to the Kings.
Rookie free agent Chase Audige (9.0 ppg) shot the ball well from deep, connecting on 4 of 9 (46.2%) from beyond the arc. Orlando Robinson (10.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg) struggled from the field at the Classic though point guard Jamaree Bouyea (7.5 ppg, 6.5 apg), on a two-way contract with Miami, excelled off the bench.
Boston has had a busy summer. The Celtics have made a plethora of moves while bringing in four players. Kristaps Porzingis is the biggest addition. While the other two additions are veterans, Celtics fans will likely be able to get their first look at 2023 second-rounder Jordan Walsh. Walsh recently inked a four-year deal with the team.
2022 second-round draft pick JD Davison, who is on a restricted free agent, and Justin Champagnie, on a nonguaranteed deal, are other players to watch. Meanwhile, Udoka Azubuike, Mychal Mulder, and Jay Scrubb are playing to earn a training camp invite.
Best Bet: Miami Heat -130.
Lean Under 183.5
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks, 3:30 p.m. (ET), Thomas and Mack Center, ESPN2
Led by Tre Mann, Oklahoma City went 2-1 in the Salt Lake City Summer League. Mann was the best player in Utah this week, compiling an event-high 23.7 points on 54.5% shooting from the field and 3.3 triples on 41.1% from the 3-point line. 2023 NBA all-rookie selection Jalen Williams was impressive in his lone appearance in Utah as he sat out the last two games for undisclosed reasons. It is unknown whether the 6-6 wing will play in Vegas.
Still, the Thunder have a lot talent on their roster. Ousmane Dieng (14.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg) showed tremendous growth from last season, and Chet Holmgren (12.5 ppg, 10.0 RPG, 3.5 rpg) picked up where he left off last summer. Jared Butler, a free agent, and Jaylin Williams also played well. The Thunder’s top pick in this year’s draft, Cason Wallace, won’t play though 2023 second-round pick Keyontae Johnson may. Caleb McConnell and Zhaire Smith may also get more run in Vegas than in SLC.
Dallas is playing the summer league for the first time. While the Mavericks made headlines with a couple of big moves this summer, they also added some young pieces. 2023 first-round picks Dereck Lively II and Olivier-Maxence Prosper are the key players to watch. However, Jaden Hardy, who played well in the second half of the season for the Mavs, and AJ Lawson, on a two-way contract, are also players to keep an eye on. Undrafted rookie Mike Miles. and free agent Braxton Key are among the players trying to secure an NBA training camp invite.
While it is unknown who will play for OKC, the Thunder have a stacked and experienced roster. Giving up -4.5 points is a little bit iffy with so much unknown, so bettors may want to go with the Thunder to win, and with the line being under -200, that isn’t a horrible gamble.
Bet Bet: OKC -4.5 (-110)
