Pelle Larsson hit a floater in overtime, leading the Miami Heat to a 120-118 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA Summer League championship. Under Summer League rules, the first team to score seven points in overtime wins. Miami outscored Memphis 7-5 in the extra period.
Josh Christopher led the Heat with 24 points, hitting six 3-pointers. He was named Summer League MVP after averaging 19.3 points as Miami finished 6-0. Alondes Williams and Kel’el Ware each added 20 points, while Cole Swider scored 19 and Larsson finished with 16.
Prior to the final game, Ware was named to the All-Summer League First Team, averaging 18 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.
Christopher is trying to earn a roster spot with the Heat after playing for the Utah Jazz’s G League team last season. He was the Houston Rockets’ 2021 first-round draft pick (No. 24 overall) out of Arizona State and played two seasons with the team.
The Grizzlies were led by Jake LaRavia’s 32 points and six rebounds, while Scotty Pippen Jr. continued his standout performance over the 11 days of exhibition play with 29 points, 11 assists, five rebounds and four steals. GG Jackson II added 28 points and nine rebounds for Memphis, which finished the Summer League with a 5-1 record.
Pippen and Jackson joined Ware on the All-Summer League first team, along with Reed Sheppard of the Rockets and Jordan Miller of the Los Angeles Clippers.
Two good possessions by Scottie Pippen Jr. First a good pressure on the rim for the and-1 and then, after a good defensive possession by GG Jackson, he rewards him for running the court with a good pass in transition. image.twitter.com/YOkjzbi4p5
— Hot Hand Theory (@HotHandTheory) July 23, 2024
Based on his Summer League performance of 21.5 points and 8.6 assists per game, Pippen appears to be playing for a permanent roster spot. His standout performance came in Sunday’s semifinals against the Clippers, during which he compiled a triple-double of 23 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
Pippen, 23, is the son of Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen. He is entering his second season with Memphis. He originally signed with the Los Angeles Lakers out of Vanderbilt but later joined the Grizzlies on a two-way contract. In 21 games (16 starts), he averaged 12.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists last season. Pippen also shot 42 percent of his 72 3-point attempts.
