CLEVELAND -- The start of training camp is still two months away in the National Basketball Association, but the Summer League action is heating up the courts of the Cox Pavilion and Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.
The Cavaliers completed round-robin play with a 2-1 record after 93-88 win over the Indiana Pacers at the Cox Pavilion on Monday, which served as a bounce-back victory after last Saturday’s 86-81 loss to the Chicago Bulls.
The Cavaliers opened play with a 72-59 win over the Washington Wizards.
PHOTOS: Three takeaways from Cleveland Cavaliers in NBA Summer League
While this was only the first glimpse of the Cavaliers’ youngest players, there were several positive takeaways from the three-game summer schedule and first-round playoff win over the Sacramento Kings.
ZIZIC SHOWS SKILLS ON BOTH ENDS OF FLOOR
Center Ante Zizic was one of three players the Cavaliers acquired from the Boston Celtics in exchange for multi-time Eastern Conference All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving last season, and while he did not play much during his first season in Cleveland, he made up for lost time.
Zizic averaged 20.5 points, 12.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists over 26.5 minutes per game for the Cavaliers’ summer team. A native of Croatia who trains at Strong Style MMA with members of former UFC champion Stipe Miocic’s team, the 6-foot-11 Zizic knocked down 19 of his 30 shots in two summer outings.
Zizic’s 12.5 rebounds-per-game average ranks second of any player in the NBA Summer League.
Zizic averaged 3.7 points and 1.9 rebounds while shooting 73.1 percent from the field and 72.4 percent from the free-throw line in 32 games for the Cavaliers during the 2017-2018 season.
OSMAN SHOWS VERSATILITY
Cavaliers small forward Cedi Osman was considered a “hustle player” known more for his defensive effort than as an offensive stalwart, but he has shown himself to be quite versatile since going out to Las Vegas for the summer season.
In two summer games, Osman averaged 20.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.0 blocks over 31.5 minutes of play.
Osman knocked down 14 of his 33 looks from the field (42 percent), while being in the top 10 in scoring average.
In 61 games for the Cavaliers this past season, the 6-foot-8, 215-pound Osman averaged 3.9 points, 2.0 rebounds, 0.7 assists and 0.4 steals. Osman shot 48.4 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from three-point range.
SEXTON SHOWS SCRAPPINESS
The Cavaliers selected point guard Collin Sexton out of the University of Alabama with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft because they liked the way he played the game and his tough-minded makeup, and the rookie ball-handler has not disappointed in his first foray representing Cleveland.
Sexton averaged 18.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting 48 percent from the field in 28.8 minutes of play in four games for the Wine and Gold.
The first round of the tournament will wrap up and the second round will get underway today and continue Saturday, July 14. The Consolation Round will be held on July 13, while the quarterfinals, semifinals and NBA Summer League Championship will be held on July 15, 16 and 17, respectively.
