(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
The California Classic, which is basically the start of the NBA Summer League in Sacramento, got underway on Monday afternoon with the Los Angeles Lakers going head-to-head with the defending Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat.
Even though the Lakers have been stealing all the headlines over the last few days due to their moves in NBA free agency, it was the Heat’s time to shine on Monday, with one of their rookies putting on a clinic against the purple and gold.
The one player everyone had their eye on coming into this game was former UCLA Bruins star Jaime Jaquez Jr., who Miami selected with the No. 18 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, which was ironically one pick after the Lakers took guard Jalen Hood-Schifino at No. 17.
Despite being taken one pick lower, Jaquez dominated and overshadowed Hood-Schifino’s debut for Los Angeles, which was less than stellar.
Second-year guard Max Christie led the way for the Lakers with 17 points, while Jaquez finished with a game-high 22 points to lead the team to victory.
Final Score Thread
Jaime Jaquez Jr. shows out as the @MiamiHEAT win in the California Classic!
Nikola Jovic: 21 PTS, 8 REB, 3 AST
Max Christie: 17 PTS, 6 REB, 4 AST pic.twitter.com/ZZz4pVIViU
— NBA (@NBA) July 4, 2023
Although the Summer League technically got underway on Monday in Sacramento, with games also being played in Salt Lake City, Utah, the real competition takes place in Las Vegas later this week, with every team in the league putting their young players to the test.
All eyes will be on the two potential superstars in this draft while the Summer League continues in Las Vegas, with Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson set to play for the San Antonio Spurs and Portland Trail Blazers, respectively, in Nevada.
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