By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Recovering from injury and making his first appearance with the Charlotte Hornets, French Tidjane Salaun registered eight points with 3/7 from the field, helping his side beat the New York Knicks, 94-90, in Thomas & Mack Center on Saturday. His debut in the 2024 NBA 2K25 Summer League in Las Vegas additionally featured seven rebounds and one assist over 14 minutes. The 18-year-old forward was the sixth pick of the 2024 NBA draft.
“It was good for me to come back. It is like my second practice. I am not feeling too bad, I am feeling good,” Salaun commented on playing after a minor laceration near his left knee.
Plenty of European action for the Knicks, including Lithuanian Rokas Jokubaitis with eight points, two rebounds, one steal, and one assist over 14 minutes. German-American Duane Washington Jr. scored a game-high 26 points, while Ukrainian Dmytro Skapintsev dropped nine points, German Ariel Hukporti had six points, and French Pacome Dadiet registered five points.
Pushing the Chicago Bulls to a 96-89 victory against the Milwaukee Bucks in the Pavilion, Lithuanian Matas Buzelis tallied 15 points with 4/15 field goals, seven rebounds, two blocks, and two assists. He lasted nearly 30 minutes in his Summer League debut. Estonian teammate Henri Drell added six points.
More European players
Summer League action in the Pavilion extended to Belgian Ajay Mitchell scoring 15 points with 6/18 field goals for the Oklahoma City Thunder in a loss, 94-69, to the Toronto Raptors. For the Dallas Mavericks in a loss, 90-89, to the Utah Jazz, French Melvin Ajinca put up 13 points with 5/13 makes from the field.
Turkish Adem Bona made all four of his shots for eight points in a win, 94-81, for the Philadelphia 76ers over the Detroit Pistons in Thomas & Mack Center. He added seven rebounds and five blocks. Swedish Bobi Klintman had 13 points for the Pistons.
Another 2024 draft pick from Sweden, Pelle Larsson tallied four points, five rebounds, and three assists for the Miami Heat in a win, 119-114, versus the Boston Celtics in Pavilion. For the C’s, Portuguese Neemias Queta finished with 20 points and French Killian Tillie produced four points.
Lithuanian Mantas Rubstavicius went for ten points, three assists, one block, and one rebound as the Golden State Warriors overpowered the Phoenix Suns, 90-73, in Thomas & Mack Center.
With the San Antonio Spurs defeating the Portland Trail Blazers, 83-77, in the Thomas & Mack Center, French Sidy Cissoko chipped in eight points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Belarusian Yauhen Massalski had two points and 14 rebounds. On the losing end, French Rayan Rupert recorded 13 points.
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League