NBA Player News

As expected, Hauser will be unavailable for this game. Boston has already clinched the No. 2 seed in the East, so there is no reason for Hauser to suit up. Baylor Scheierman and Jordan Walsh should take on much larger roles.

The 33rd overall pick in last month’s draft, Evans’ summer league debut was not one for the archives. The former Duke wing missed all nine of his three-point attempts and spent most of his time lingering on the perimeter. One game does not make an entire career; Evans boasts plenty of potential to be a valuable 3-and-D wing. However, Saturday’s performance was a reminder that he’ll need some time to reach that potential.

For the second consecutive game, Pullin provided efficient offensive production from the point guard position. This offseason is key for the 6-foot-4 guard, who is looking to lock down a concrete role for himself in Minnesota. Given the Timberwolves’ depth at point guard, that may be challenging. However, Pullin can certainly make the decision a difficult one for head coach Chris Finch and the rest of the coaching staff. Playing as well as Pullin has in Las Vegas certainly helps his case.

Hopkins did not do as much scoring as he did in his summer debut on Friday, but the rookie out of St. John’s had another solid effort for the Nuggets. His activity as a rebounder and defender has been good; playing his final season for Rick Pitino certainly paid dividends on that end of the floor. Whether he’s on a two-way deal or a standard contract, Hopkins has the tools needed to contribute if his name is called during the regular season.

Stevenson signed a 10-day contract with the Wizards late in the 2024-25 season but never appeared in an NBA game. He’s still seeking his first legitimate NBA opportunity, which makes days like Saturday so important for the former West Virginia guard. Against the Timberwolves, Stevenson shot 4-of-7 from beyond the arc to help lead the Nuggets to a 19-point victory. He’s an unrestricted free agent, so there’s no need to expect to receive fantasy value from Stevenson. But he may have taken a step toward earning a training camp invite with his performance on Saturday.

Simpson signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Nuggets in February, so his status for the 2026-27 season is relatively secure. The lone issue with his performance on Saturday was the five turnovers, but he did enough in other areas to help Denver take the 101-82 victory. Simpson cleaned some things up after a subpar performance in the Nuggets’ first game in Las Vegas; the key now is to build on his showing against the Timberwolves.

After putting up an inefficient 20 points in Friday’s loss to the Nets, Dadiet continued to struggle with his shot on Saturday. The Knicks’ wing, who’s heading into his third NBA season, shot 1-of-6 from beyond the arc in the 70-49 loss to the Spurs. Many teams hope their returnees reach a point where they shine in summer league, but that has not happened yet for Dadiet or Mohamed Diawara, with the latter going scoreless on Saturday.

With returnees Mohamed Diawara (zero points, five rebounds, one assist and one block) and Pacôme Dadiet struggling mightily, Nickel has been one of the few bright spots for the Knicks in Las Vegas. After knocking down six three-pointers in Friday’s loss to the Nets, the second-round pick hit four more on Saturday. Putting capable shooters around Jalen Brunson has been a priority of the Knicks’ decision-makers since signing the point guard, and Nickel certainly fits the mold.

As was the case in Thursday’s Vegas Summer League opener against the Hawks, Gillespie did a little bit of everything for the Spurs on Saturday. Given the Spurs’ existing perimeter depth, he’ll need to be a “jack of all trades” player to contribute early on. Already signed to a two-way contract, Gillespie is likely to spend the majority of his rookie season in the G League, but he may be worth holding onto in deeper dynasty leagues.

After struggling in his first appearance of the summer, Bryant was much better in the Spurs’ 70-49 victory. In addition to shooting 70 percent from the field, he made both of his three-point attempts and recorded three “stocks.” With the Spurs adding Tobias Harris to the mix via free agency, Bryant is likely to take on a limited offensive role again next season. However, he can provide value as an “energy guy” and defender, and those characteristics were on display against the Knicks.

The Pacers were in danger of being run out of Cox Pavilion on Saturday, but the play of their point guards helped force overtime. Smith, the NBA’s all-time assist leader, racked up five while also scoring 16 points. However, it was Yuki Kawamura who provided the initial spark, and he finished with 12 points, three rebounds, three assists and one three-pointer. All three of the Pacers’ two-way contract slots have been filled, so Smith and Kawamura may be competing for one training camp invite in Las Vegas. Being the draft pick may give the latter an edge in the competition.