Sixers face Jazz for final Summer League game

The shorthanded Summer Sixers now sit at 2-2 in Summer League. For their final game on Tuesday afternoon they’ll be facing the Utah Jazz, giving them one more chance to pick up some reps before training camp and next season.

The star of the Sixers’ last game was Paul Reed, who has well and truly broken out in Summer League after a quieter start. He scored in a variety of ways with face-up drives, post-ups, put-backs and a pair of threes to finish with 27 points on 11-of-17 shooting. With 20 rebounds (6 offensive), 4 assists, 4 steals and 4 blocks as well, it was monster effort for the sophomore big man. It’s also encouraging for the Sixers to see Reed finding success in complementary ways, whether he’s cutting to the basket, attacking the offensive glass or spotting up — that’s exactly what he’ll need to do when he gets chances to play in the NBA, rather than dominating the ball more as he did in the G League.

Philly will need BBall Paul to shine again vs. Utah as a few key players will be missing. Tyrese Maxey was by far the best player on the team (and maybe in Summer League overall) and the offense hasn’t been the same without his creation — Maxey left Summer League early to host a youth basketball camp in his hometown of Garland, Texas, which was pre-approved by the team. Isaiah Joe suffered a mild MCL sprain in the team’s last game against Minnesota on Sunday which will keep him sidelined for now. Filip Petrušev has also moved on from Summer League, as he’s heading back to Europe to join Anadolu Efes in Istanbul, Turkey, where he’s expected to play for the upcoming season.

Jaden Springer’s Summer League performance has been somewhat mixed. He’s often looked more comfortable on offense in second halves, but he’s still struggled a fair bit at that end of the floor and his jumper has been off so far. Of course, at just 18 years old with a lot of upside to develop, it’s not like Springer should have been expected to contribute much to the Sixers heading into next season. He’s also shown promising flashes with his playmaking and some of his drives to the rim, while his tenacious defense has absolutely delivered. With the Sixers missing a few key players to wrap up Summer League on Tuesday, how Springer fares with extra opportunities on offense will be one of the main things to watch.

The Jazz have been one of the better teams in Summer League this year with a 3-1 record and +5.5 point differential. Even though they don’t have many high-profile prospects, they have a handful of players that have stood out. Elijah Hughes and Trent Forrest have both been playing well and helping carry the offense, while center Udoka Azubuike has shown plenty of promise and athleticism at both ends of the floor with his finishing and interior defense. Oh, and keep an eye out for former Sixer Dakota Mathias, who’s been starting for the Jazz.

Enjoy your last (Summer) Sixers game for a while.

Game Info

Who: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Utah Jazz
When: 3:30 pm ET, August 17
Where: Cox Pavilion, Las Vegas, NV
Watch: NBA TV
Follow: @Liberty_Ballers