LAS VEGAS – How does a basketball team win a game shooting 3 of 24 on threes?
When the opposing team goes 4 of 31 on threes.
The Portland Trail Blazers shook off the disappointment of losing rookie Shaedon Sharpe for the remainder of summer league to earn their first victory, 85-68 over New Orleans in a game that included enough bricks to build a new casino on the Las Vegas strip.
Both teams were hideous from three-point range. The Blazers (1-1) shot 12.5% while the Pelicans (0-1) hit on just 12.9%.
But Blazers coach Steve Hetzel said he wasn’t concerned with his team’s lack of three-point accuracy.
“It is what it is,” Hetzel said. “Just keep shooting. Let it fly. If you’re open, you’ve got to shoot it.”
Fortunately for the Blazers, they shot 27 of 47 (57.4%) on two-point attempts compared to 15 of 38 (39.4%) for the Pelicans. Portland also committed just nine turnovers compared to 15 for its opponent.
Overall, Hetzel said he was pleased with his team’s ability to overcome the loss in is opening game.
“Just pleased with their bounce-back mentality,” Hetzel said. “They felt disappointed. You could feel it yesterday. And then they all collectively, you could see just the physicality from the jump … We’ve got a good group of guys who like playing with each other, they pull for each other. And so it was nice to see him play well.”
Trendon Watford led the Blazers with 17 points and 11 rebounds. He made 6 of 12 shots including 1 of 3 threes.
Rookie Jabari Walker continued is strong play with 12 points and five rebounds in 18 minutes off of the bench. During Thursday’s 81-78 loss to Detroit, Walker put up 11 points and seven rebounds in just under 15 minutes while going 5 of 5 from the field.
Jabari playing well at least somewhat mitigates the team’s disappointment in losing Sharpe, sidelined for the rest of summer league after suffering a slight labral tear in his left shoulder during the first quarter against the Pistons.
“Feel bad for him,” Hetzel said. “It’s been a long time since he’s played. He had a great camp. He was ready to go. And he was excited to play, so I just feel bad for him.”
Watford said he was shocked that Sharpe was so severely injured. On the play, Sharpe injured his shoulder reaching in on defense against Detroit guard Jaden Ivey.
“I thought he was going to play this morning,” Watford said. “But he came into film this morning with a sling on. He will be alright and we can’t wait to have him back.”
The Blazers selected Sharpe at No. 7 passing up on Dyson Daniels, who went to New Orleans at No. 8. Daniels went 0 of 5 from the field to finish with one point and two assists in eight minutes.
8 p.m. Monday vs. New York Knicks (ESPN2)
6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 14 vs. Houston Rockets (NBA TV)
All games will be played at the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion on the campus of UNLV. Fans can purchase tickets by visiting NBAEvents.com.
— Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook).
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