The NBA Summer League Championship is set for Sunday, with the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors battling it out for league superiority after both snagged semifinal wins yesterday in Las Vegas.
Grizzlies’ Trio Is Just Different
Look, Memphis isn’t just winning, they’re straight-up rolling. They torched the Houston Rockets 101-90 in their semifinal, and it’s all thanks to this insane duo that’s turning into a “Big Three.” Cedric Coward? Dude was a star in that game, putting up 28 points, grabbing six boards, and dishing out five assists. That’s an all-around performance you love to see, especially when the stakes are this high in a semi. Then you got 2026 lottery pick Cameron Boozer. The kid is a double-double machine already, dropping 12 points and 12 rebounds, plus five assists. For a lottery pick, that kind of instant impact is exactly what you want from your future star. And don’t sleep on Javon Small, who added 17 points, seven boards, and six assists. These three together are chipping in everywhere, filling up the stat sheet across the board, and Memphis is 4-1 because of it. Their all-around play and scoring depth? It’s gonna be a huge headache for Golden State trying to figure out who to stop.
Can Warriors Find a Way to Match Up?
Golden State definitely had a tougher road to the championship, pulling out a hard-fought 92-88 win against the Los Angeles Lakers. They needed a balanced effort to get that W. They’ve got some legit talent in the paint, especially with first-round pick Yaxel Lendeborg. He put up 15 points in the semifinal, and you know he’s gonna bring that physicality and skill to challenge Boozer inside. That’s a matchup in the paint that could really define this game. Graham Ike is another big who can attack the rim, racking up 16 points and 11 rebounds yesterday. He’ll be crucial in challenging Memphis’s interior players and generating second-chance points. The big question for the Warriors, though, is who steps up in the backcourt. Will Richard and LJ Cryer are the candidates they’re looking at to fill that scoring role and match what Memphis’s stars are doing. Cryer showed he’s got that long-range game, hitting 12 of his 16 points from beyond the arc in the semifinal. They need that kind of perimeter firepower if they want to hang with a Grizzlies team that just keeps finding ways to score.
This championship game is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, at 9 p.m. ET, and you can catch all the action on ESPN. Memphis should absolutely be the favorite, and both teams are gunning for their second-ever Las Vegas Summer League title. Golden State last won in 2013, with Memphis taking it in 2019. Can the Grizzlies’ new Big Three seal the deal, or will the Warriors find an answer to claim another trophy? It’s gonna be a must-watch!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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